^^^m... 


^  |lBRflRYP"VEL  AND  ADVENTURE    g- 
^ — ^P  i  ■  IN  FOREIGN  LANDS  U  opjIC 

Illustrated      Per  Volume  $1.25      Any  volume  sold  separately 


YOUNG  AMERICA  ABROAD 


First  Scries, 

£.     OUTWARD   BOUND;    or,  Young  America  Afloat 

11.    SHAMROCK  AND    THISTLE;    or,  Young  America 
IN  Ireland  and  Scotland. 

III.    RED   CROSS ;  or,  Young  America   in   England  and 
Wales. 

fV.    DIKES  AND    DITCHES;    or,   Young    America    in 
Holland  and  Belgium. 

V     PALACE  AND   COTTAGE;  or,  Young  America   in 
France  and  Switzerland. 

VI.    DOWN  THE  RHINE;    or.  Young  America  in  Ger- 
many.   

Second  Series. 

I.     UP  THE  BALTIC;  or,  Young  America  in  Norway, 
Sweden,  and  Denmark. 

11.    NORTHERN  LANDS;  or.  Young  America  in  Russia 
AND  Prussia. 

III.  CROSS  AND    CRESCENT;    or.  Young    America  in 

Turkey  and  Greece. 

IV.  SUNNY  SHORES ;  or.  Young  America  in  Italy  and 

Austria. 

V.     VINE  AND    r^Z/K^:,    OR,  Young  America  in  Spain 
and  Portugal. 

VL    ISLES   OF   THE  SEA;    or,  Young    America    Home 
WARD  Bound. 

Sold  by  all  booksellers,  and  sent  by  mail,  postpaid,  on  receipt  of  price 

LEE  AND  SHEPARD    Publishers    Boston 


DIKES  AIsD  DITCHES; 


OR, 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND 
AND    BELGIUM. 


A  Story  of  Travel  and  AdventurEc 


BY 


OLIVER     OPTIC 


BOSTON 
LEE   AND    SHEPARD    PUBLISHERS 

10      MILK      STREET 


tf^f- 


>>^ 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  j-car  1868,  by 

WILLIAM    T.    ADAMS, 

In  the  Clerks  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


Copyright,  1S9G,  by  William  T.  Adams. 
All  rights  reserved. 


DIKES  AND  DITCHES. 


•toe 


TO 


DURING  A  PLEASANT  TRIP  ACROSS  THE  ATLANTIC, 
IN  1865, 

STEPHEN  S.  HOE, 

WHOSE  NAME  EVER  REMINDS  ME  OF  MY  PERSONAL  INDEBTEDNESS 

FOR    MUCH    OF    THE    PLEASURE    OF  THE   VOYAGE  ;    NOT  ONLY 

TO  MY   YOUNG   FRIEND   WHOSE  NAME   I  MENTION   HERE, 

BUT  ALSO    TO    HIM    WHO    SAT    OPPOSITE   TO  US  AT 

TABLE,     WHOSE     NAME,     ASSOCIATED     AVITH 

ONE  OF  THE  PROUDEST  ACHIEVEMENTS 

OF  AMERICAN  INVENTIVE   GENIUS, 

I  NEED  NOT  MENTION,  FOR 

NO  WORD  OF  MINE 

COULD  HONOR 

IT, 

THIS    VOLUME 
IS     RESPECTFULLY    DEDICATED. 


Ml8974i 


PREFAC  E. 


Dikes  and  Ditches,  the  fourth  of  the  ''Young  America 
Abroad  "  series,  is  a  continuation  of  the  history  of  the  Acad- 
emy Ship  and  her  consort  in  the  waters  of  Holland  and  Bel- 
o-ium.  As  inits  predecessors,  those  parts  of  the  bbok  which 
lie  within  the  domain  of  history  and  fact  are  intended  to  be 
entirely  reliable;  and  great  care  has  been  used  to  make  them 
so.  The  author  finds  his  notes  so  copious,  and  his  recollec- 
tions of  the  Low  Countries  so  full  of  interest,  that  he  has  felt 
obliged  to  devote  a  considerable  portion  of  the  work  to  the 
geography  and  history  of  the  country,  and  to  the  manners 
and  customs  of  the  people :  but  there  is  so  much  that  is  novel 
in  the  region  itself,  and  so  much  that  is  stirring  and  even 
"sensational"  in  the  history  of  the  sturdy  patriots  of  Hol- 
land, that  he  hopes  his  young  friends  will  not  complain  of 
the  proportion  in  which  he  has  mingled  his  material.  It 
would  be  a  very  great  happiness  to  him  to  have  excited  a 
sufficient  degree  of  interest  in  these  countries  to  induce  the 
boys  and  girls  to  read  Mr.  Motley's  inimitable  works,  "The 
Rise  of  the  Dutch  Republic,"  and  "The  History  of  the  United 
Netherlands."  The  writer  is  confident  that  young  people  will 
find  these  volumes  quite  as  attractive  as  the  story  books  of 

the  day. 

J*  (5) 


6  PREFACE. 

Dikes  and  Ditches  has  its  independent  storj  of  the  ad- 
ventures of  the  students.  Though  the  Academy  Squadron 
has  thus  far  been  remarkably  fortunate  in  the  character  of 
its  instructors,  Professor  Hamblin  proves  to  be  an  exception, 
and  the  crews  of  the  ship  and  her  consort  are  unhappily 
plunged  into  sundry  disciplinary  tribulations  by  his  over- 
strained dignity,  and  by  his  want  of  discretion.  The  young 
commander  of  the  Josephine  suffers  from  the  evils  of  a  divided 
authority,  which  brings  him  into  conflict  with  the  senior  in- 
structor before  experience  suggests  the  remedy.  While  the 
principal  is  compelled  to  punish  the  students  for  their  mis- 
conduct in  "hazing"  the  obnoxious  professor,  he  also  finds 
it  necessary  to  abate  the  nuisance  of  a  conceited,  overbearing, 
and  tyrannical  pedagogue.  Boys  cannot  be  expected  to  be 
angels  in  school,  until  their  instructors  have  soared  to  this 
sublime  height. 

The  author  of  the  series,  more  than  ever  encouraged  by 
the  hearty  and  generous  favor  of  his  readers,  submits  this 
volume  to  their  consideration,  trusting  that  they  will  at  least 
appreciate  his  earnest  efforts  not  only  to  please,  but  to  in- 
struct them. 

Harrison  Square,  Mass., 


CONTENTS. 


CHAFTEB  PAGH 

I.  The  Professor  and  the  Captain.  .         .        .11 

II.  A  Squall  in  the  German  Ocean.   ...  27 

III.  Something  about  Dikes 43 

IV.  Up  the  Scheldt  to  Flushing.          •         •         •  59 
V.  Captain  Schimmelpennink 7^ 

VI.  Professor  IIamblin  changes  his  Mind.         .  93 

VII.  The  Lecture  on  Belgium no 

VIII.  Antwerp  and  Rubens 129 

IX.  Trouble   on  Board  the  Josephine.        .        .  146 

X.  Who  was  Captain  of  the  Josephine.     .        .  162 

XI.  On  the  Way  to  Ghent 179 

XII.  In  Belgium's  Capital 195 

XIII.  Three  Cheers  for  the  King  of  Belgium.    .  213 

XIV.  The  Vice- Principal 230 

XV.  The  Professor's  Charge.          ....  245 

(7) 


8 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER 

XVI.  Captain  Kendall's  Defence. 

XVII.  More  about  the  Dikes  and  Ditches. 

XVIII.  An  Excursion  among  the  Dikes. 

XIX.  A  Run  through  Holland. 

XX.  Adieu  to  Holland  and  Professor  Hamblin 


?AGB 
262 

278 
310 


DIKES    AND    DITCHES 


DIKES    AND    DITCHES  J 


OR, 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN    HOLLAND   AND 
BELGIUM. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE    PROFESSOR    AND    THE    CAPTAIN. 

THE  Young  America,  with  every  rag  of  canva* 
set,  including  studding-sails  alow  and  aloft, 
rolled  and  pitched  gracefully  on  the  long  swells  of 
the  German  Ocean.  The  wind  was  very  light  from 
the  north-west,  and  there  was  hardly  enough  of  it  to 
give  the  ship  steerage-way.  A  mile  off,  on  her  star- 
board bow,  was  the  Josephine,  beclouded  in  the  quan- 
tity of  sail  she  carried,  but  hardly  leaving  a  wake  in 
the  blue  waters  behind  her.  The  hummocks  and  the 
low  land  of  the  shores  of  Holland  and  Belgium  were 
in  sight ;  but,  with  the  present  breeze,  there  was  but 
little  hope  of  reaching  the  mouth  of  the  Scheldt  that 
night,  though  it  was  hardly  twenty  miles  distant. 

The  regular  course  of  instruction  was  in  progress 
in  both  vessels,  the  starboard  watch  of  each  being 
in  the  steerage,  attending  to  their  studies,  while  the 
port   watch   were  on  deck,   in  charge   of   the  sailing 

(11) 


12  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

department.  Mr.  Lowington  paced  the  deck  of  the 
ship,  and,  with  the  habit  of  an  old  sailor,  frequently 
cast  his  eyes  aloft  to  see  what  sails  were  drawing.  Oc- 
casionally, from  a  custom  begotten  of  his  solicitude  for 
his  charge,  he  glanced  at  the  Josephine. 

The  squadron  did  not  make  even  a  mile  an  hour  ; 
and  when  the  watch  was  changed,  at  four  o'clock, 
there  was  not  a  breath  of  air  to  ruffle  the  glassy  waves. 
The  ship  rolled  and  pitched  on  the  swells,  and  the 
sails  slapped  against  the  masts  and  rigging  under  the 
effect  of  her  motion.  The  young  seamen  on  deck, 
without  being  in  a  hurry,  were  annoyed  and  vexed,  as 
all  sailors  are  in  a  calm.  They  partook  of  the  heavi- 
ness of  the  scene,  and  gaped  and  yawned,  from  mere 
inactivity,  and  the  want  of  something  to  occupy  their 
minds. 

The  calm  was  only  the  prelude  of  a  lively  scene. 
To  the  westward,  beyond  the  low  coast  line  dimly 
seen  in  the  distance,  was  a  dense  mass  of  black  clouds, 
rising  rapidly  towards  the  zenith.  Low,  muttering, 
muffled  thunder  came  over  the  sea.  The  sun  went 
into  the  inky  veil;  and  then  the  lightnings  flashed, 
faintly  at  first,  but  glaring  brighter  and  brighter  as 
the  darkness  increased. 

Mr.  Lowington  still  paced  the  deck  ;  but,  instead  of 
looking  aloft  now,  he  cast  frequent  glances  at  the  offi- 
cer  of  the  deck,  who  was  watching  the  dense  black 
clouds.  The  principal  said  nothing;  for,  whatever 
views  he  had  in  regard  to  the  working  of  the  ship,  it 
was  his  policy  never  to  interfere  until  absolutely  neces- 
sary. The  ofliccrs  were  encouraged  to  do  their  own 
thinking,   and    were    expected   to   take    all    necessary 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.        1 3 

precautions  for  the  safety  of  the  sliip  at  the  right  time. 
Tlie  second  lieutenant  was  in  charge  of  the  deck,  and 
as  yet  he  had  taken  no  step  which  indicated  that  lie 
was  conscious  of  any  peril. 

"  Mr.  Lavender,"  said  he,  at  last,  when  the  princi- 
pal's movements  had  begun  to  be  a  little  nervous. 

The  second  midshipman,  who  was  the  third  oflicer 
in  rank  on  duty,  stepped  up  to  the  lieutenant  and 
touched  his  cap. 

"  Tell  the  captain  there  is  a  shower  coming  up,  and 
that  the  clouds  look  squally,"  added  Mr.  Ellis,  the  offi- 
cer of  the  deck. 

Lavender  touched  his  cap,  and  went  down  into  the 
steerage,  where  the  captain  was  reciting  his  French 
lesson  to  Professor  Badois. 

"  Excuse  me,"  said  Captain  Haven.  "  I  must  go 
on  deck,  for  I  suppose  Mr.  Lowington  wouldn't  give 
an  order  to  take  in  sail  if  the  masts  were  blown  out 
of  the  ship." 

The  commander  of  the  Young  America  went  on 
deck  in  a  hurry.  He  and  all  below  had  observed 
the  sudden  darkness  which  pervaded  the  steerage,  and 
they  were  rather  glad  to  have  something  stirring  occur 
to  break  up  the  monotony  of  the  calm.  The  captain 
looked  at  the  black  clouds,  and  promptly  directed  the 
officer  of  the  deck  to  take  in  the  studding-sails,  which 
was  done  by  the  watch. 

The  clouds  wore  that  peculiar  appearance  which 
indicates  wind  —  an  aspect  which  the  old  sailor  readily 
recognizes.  Captain  Haven  was  familiar  enough  witli 
the  weather  signs  to  understand  what  was  coming; 
but  the  young  sailor  is  almost  as  much  afraid  of  taking 

2 


14  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

in  sail  too  soon  as  of  being  too  tardy  in  doing  so. 
There  is  as  much  vanity  in  carrying  sail  as  in  wear- 
ing fine  clothes.  The  captain  did  not  wish  to  be  too 
cautious,  for  that  would  cause  a  smile  upon  the  faces 
of  the  ship's  crew. 

He  looked  at  Mr.  Lowington,  who  seemed  to  be 
perfectly  satisfied,  or  rather  his  attention  was  directed 
entirely  to  the  Josephine,  which  had  not  yet  taken  in 
her  huge  fore  square-sail.  Then  he  studied  the  threat- 
ening pile  of  black  clouds,  which  had  now  nearly 
reached  the  zenith  ;  while  the  thunder  rattled,  and 
the  lightnings  flashed  with  blinding  glare. 

"  Take  in  topgallant-sails  and  royals,"  said  Captain 
Haven  to  the  officer  of  the  deck,  now  satisfied  that  his 
reputation  for  carrying  sail  could  not  suffer  in  the  face 
of  such  admonitory  indications. 

Mr.  Ellis  called  on  the  entire  starboard  watch  to 
obey  his  orders  ;  for  only  a  quarter  watch  was  required 
to  handle  the  ship  under  ordinary  circumstances,  the 
other  portion  of  the  watch  being  idlers  on  deck.  The 
light  sails  were  taken  in  ;  and  Mr.  Lowington  made 
no  comment,  as  he  sometimes  did,  after  an  evolution 
had  been  performed,  in  order  to  express  his  approval 
or  otherwise  of  the  action  of  the  captain. 

The  Josephine  was  most  strangely  deficient  in  cau- 
tion on  the  j^resent  occasion,  and  the  principal  was 
evidently  much  disturbed  by  the  conduct  of  her  cap- 
tain, who  was  usually  very  prudent,  without  being 
timid.  There  she  was,  with  all  her  extra  sail  set 
and  flapping  in  the  calm,  while  a  tempest  was  brew- 
ing before  her. 

"  Captain  Kendall  must  be  asleep,"  said  Mr.  Low- 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.        15 

ington,  nervously,  to  Peaks,  the  adult  boatswain  of  the 
ship. 

"And  the  officers  too,"  replied  the  old  salt,  hitch- 
ing up  his  trousers.  "  We  ought  to  fire  a  gun  to 
wake  them  up." 

''  It  is  not  like  Captain  Kendall  to  he  caught  nap- 
ping when  a  squall  is  gathering,"  added  the  principal. 

"I  should  think  tlie  thunder  would  wake  them  up. 
It's  heavy  for  these  parts.  That  squall  will  come  all 
at  once  when  it  does  come.  It  will  take  their  sails 
right  out  of  the  bolt-ropes." 

Mr.  Lowington  walked  aft  again,  and  on  the  quarter- 
deck met  Flag-officer  Gordon,  who  had  also  been  ob- 
serving the  Josephine,  and  wondering  at  her  continued 
neglect  of  the  most  ordinary  ^precautions. 

"  Mr.  Lavender,"  said  the  commander  of  the  squad- 
ron. 

The  midshipman,  ever  ready  to  do  the  meagre  duties 
assigned  to  him,  touched  his  cap  to  Captain  Gordon. 

"  Pass  the  word  for  the  signal-officer,"  added  the 
flag-officer. 

"  That's  right,  Captain  Gordon  I  "  exclaimed  the 
principal.  "  If  the  officers  of  the  Josephine  don't  do 
better  than  this,  they  must  be  broken.  I  am  aston- 
ished." 

"  So  am  I,  sir.  Captain  Kendall  is  usually  very 
careful,  and  what  he  don't  see  isn't  worth  seeing." 

"  Be  as  expeditious  as  possible,  for  the  squall  will 
soon  be  upon  us." 

The  signal-officer  appeared  with  the  midshipman 
and  quartermaster  in  charge  of  tlie  signals.  Captain 
Gordon  ordered  the  number,  "  Take  in  sail,"  to  be  set 


l6  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

Paul  Kendall  was  severely  criticised  on  board  of  the 
ship ;  but,  before  he  has  suffered  too  much  in  the  esti- 
mation of  his  sympathizing  friends,  let  our  readers 
be  transferred  to  the  steerage  of  the  Josephine,  in 
which,  as  the  consort  of  the  Academy  Ship,  the  same 
rules  and  regulations  prevailed.  The  port  watch  were 
at  their  studies,  while  the  starboard  watch  had  the 
deck,  in  charge  of  Mr.  Terrill,  the  first  lieutenant. 
This  was  the  captain's  study  time,  for  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  several  classes,  and  in  school  hours  was 
subject  to  the  discipline  of  the  professors,  the  same  as 
other  students. 

When  the  squall  began  to  gather.  Professor  Hamblin 
was  hearing  the  recitation  in  Greek.  The  learned  gen- 
tleman did  not  think  a  scholar  knew  anything  unless 
he  possessed  a  considerable  knowledge  of  Greek.  It 
was  his  favorite  branch,  and  the  class  in  this  lan- 
guage was  his  pet.  He  was  a  strict  disciplinarian,  and 
never  allowed  anything  to  interrupt  the  recitation  in 
Greek  if  he  could  possibly  avoid  it.  No  scholar,  not 
even  the  captain,  as  the  regulations  then  were,  could 
leave  the  class  without  his  permission.  It  is  true,  the 
rule  had  not  been  made,  or  even  been  considered,  with 
special  reference  to  the  commander  of  the  vessel ;  but 
Paul  had  always  quietly  submitted  to  it,  even  at  some 
inconvenience  and  sacrifice  to  himself.  No  emergency 
had  arisen,  since  the  Josephine  went  into  commission, 
which  required  the  setting  aside  of  the  rule,  and  it 
was  supposed  the  professors  would  have  judgment 
enough  to  use  it  w^th  proper  discretion. 

Professor  Hamblin,  so  far  as  Greek  roots  were  con- 
cerned, was  not  lacking  in  judgment ;  but  he  knew  no 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.        1 7 

more  about  a  ship  than  Cleats,  tlie  boatswain,  did 
about  Greek.  He  was  a  very  learned  man,  and  lived 
ill  a  Greek  and  Latin  atmosphere.  The  dead  lan- 
fuao-es  were  the  chief  end  of  man  to  him.  lie  was 
cold,  stern,  and  precise,  except  that,  when  hearing  a 
class  in  Greek,  he  warmed  up  a  little,  and  became 
more  human,  especially  if  the  students  manifested  a 
becomins:  interest  in  his  favorite  branch. 

Unfortunately  for  Paul  Kendall,  he  was  not  an  en- 
thusiastic devotee  of  the  Greek  language  and  literature. 
He  lived  too  much  in  the  present  to  be  enamoured  of 
anything  so  old,  and,  as  it  seemed  to  him,  so  compara- 
tively useless.  But  he  was  faithful  in  the  discharge  of 
all  the  academic  requirements  of  the  institution,  not 
excepting  even  those  branches  which  he  disliked. 
Though  he  was  always  very  respectful  to  Professor 
Hamblin,  he  was  candid  enough  to  say  that  he  did 
not  like  Greek.  He  was,  therefore,  no  favorite  of  the 
learned  gentleman,  who  thought  his  abilities  and  his 
scholarship  were  over-estimated  —  because  he  did  not 
like  the  dead  languages. 

"  Mr.  Terrill  directs  me  to  inform  you  that  a  squall 
is  coming  up,"  said   Ritchie,  the  third  master,  as  L 
touched  his  cap  to  Captain  Kendall. 

"  No  interruption  I  Xo  interruption  I  "  interposed 
Professor  Hamblin,  very  ill-naturedly. 

The  third  master  touched  his  cap,  as  the  captain 
bowed  to  him  in  acknowledgment  that  he  had  heard 
the  message,  and  then  retired.  The  professor  was 
vexed  :  perhaps  he  was  a  little  more  ill-natured  than 
usual,  on  account  of  being  slightly  seasick  —  an  etlect 
produced  by  the  uneasy  roll  of  the  vessel  in  the  calm. 
2* 


tS  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

"  Now,  Mr.  Kendall,  go  on  with  the  dual  of  ao/nr^f* 
added  he,  vis  Ritchie  retired. 

"  I  must  beg  you  will  excuse  me.  Professor  Haml> 
lin,"  said  Paul,  with  the  utmost  deference,  as  he  rose 
from  the  bench  on  which  he  was  seated. 

"  Go  on  with  the  dual !  "  replied  the  professor, 
sternly. 

Paul  looked  at  the  snapping  gray  eye  of  the  learned 
gentleman,  and  was  assured  that  he  had  a  will  of  his 
own.  As  the  captain  of  the  Josephine,  he  did  not 
wish  to  set  an  example  of  insubordination,  which 
others  might  a  'opt  before  they  were  certain  that  the 
emergency  required  it.  He  had  not  seen  the  gather- 
ing clouds,  and  he  had  full  confidence  in  the  judgment 
and  skill  of  Terrill,  who  was  in  charge  of  the  deck. 
The  rule  was  that  the  professors  should  be  obeyed  in 
study  hours.  This  had  always  been  the  regulation  on 
board  the  ship  ;  but,  then,  the  principal,  who  was  a 
sailor  himself,  was  always  present  to  prevent  any 
abuse  of  power. 

Paul  decided  to  yield  the  point  for  a  time,  at  least, 
and  he  recited  his  lesson  as  directed  by  the  professor. 
Half  an  hour  later,  Ritchie  appeared  again,  with 
another  message  from  the  first  lieutenant,  to  the  efiect 
that  the  squall  was  almost  upon  them.  This  was 
about  the  time  that  Flag-officer  Gordon  had  sent  for 
the  signal-officer,  on  board  of  the  ship. 

"  You  must  excuse  me  now.  Professor  Hamblin, 
for  I  must  go  on  deck,"  said  Paul,  as  respectfully  as  he 
could  speak. 

"  I  can't  spare  you  ;  I  haven't  finished  the  exercise 
yet,'*  replied   Mr.  Hamblin,  sourly,     "  This  is  a  plan 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       I9 

to  break  up  the  lesson   in  Greek,  because  some  of  the 
young  gentlemen  don't  like  to  study  it." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir  ;  but  the  officer  of  the  deck 
sends  me  word  that  the  squall  is  upon  us.  You 
can  hear  the  thunder  and  see  the  lightning,"  added 
Paul. 

"  I  am  not  afraid  of  thunder  and  lightning,"  growled 
the  professor.  "  My  classes  are  not  to  be  broken  up 
on  any  frivolous  pretences.  Mr.  Lowington  assured 
me  I  had  full  powers  over  all  during  study  hours  ; 
and  I  tell  you  to  be  seated,  and  go  on  with  your  reci- 
tation." 

"  But  the  vessel  is  in  danger,  sir,"  protested  Paul. 

"  I'm  not  afraid,  and  vou  need  not  be.  Take  your 
seat,  sir,  or  I  will  report  you  to  the  principal." 

Paul's  face  flushed.  Xo  officer  or  professor  had  be- 
fore ever  threatened  to  report  him  to  Mr.  Lowington. 
Mr.  Hamblin  was  as  ignorant  as  a  baby  upon  nautical 
matters,  and  while  the  Josephine  rolled  easily  on  the 
waves,  and  the  sails  flapped  idly  against  the  masts,  he 
could  imagine  no  peril. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  disobey  your  order,  sir  ;  but  in  this 
instance  I  must,"  said  Paul,  firmly,  though  his  voice 
trembled  with  emotion. 

"Very  well,  sir,"  replied  the  professor,  angrily, 
"  I  shall  report  you  to  the  principal,  and  if  I  have  any 
influence  with  him,  you  will  be  removed  from  youi 
present  position." 

Paul  did  not  wait  to  hear  any  more,  but  hastened  on 
deck.  His  quick  eye  discovered  the  peril  of  the  mo- 
ment. The  squall  was  indeed  upon  them.  At  the 
peak  of  the  Young  America  hung  the  signal  which 


20  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

.  ad  been  hoisted  ;  but  it  was  not  necessary  to  look  in 
the  book  for  its  meaning. 

"  Mr.  Terrill,  call  all  hands —  quick  !  "  said  Captain 
Kendall,  in  sharp  tones. 

"  All  hands  on  deck,  ahoy  !  "  roared  the  boatswain's 
mate,  as  he  piped  his  shrill  whistle  at  the  main  hatch. 

The  students  flew  from  their  seats  at  the  mes? 
table,  deserting  the  two  professors  without  an  apology. 
With  only  two  exceptions,  the  officers  and  crew  of  the 
Josephine  were  all  old  sailors.  Most  of  them  had 
been  on  board  the  ship  for  two  years,  and  a  sudden 
squall  was  no  new  thing  to  them.  They  leaped  into 
their  stations,  and  when  the  orders  were  given  they 
knew  exactly  what  to  do. 

'•  Stand  by  sheets  and  halyards  !  "  shouted  the  first 
lieutenant.  "  Man  the  jib,  and  flying  jib  halyards,  and 
downhauls !  " 

"  All  ready  forward,  sir,"  reported  the  second  lieu- 
tenant, whose  place  was  on  the  forecastle. 

"  Man  the  topgallant  clewlines  and  buntlines  !  "  con- 
tinued Terrill. 

"  All  readv,  sir  !  " 

"  Ease  off  the  sheets  !  Settle  away  the  halyards  ! 
Clew  up  !     Lay  aloft,  and  furl  topgallant-sail  !  " 

The  topgallant  men  sprang  up  the  rigging  like  so 
many  cats,  for  all  hands  had  been  thoroughly  waked 
up  by  the  impending  peril. 

"  Let  go  the  flying  jib  halyard  !     Haul  down  !     Lay 
out  and  stow  the  flying  jib  !  " 
.     "  Man  the  topsail  clewlines  and  buntlines !  " 

"All  ready,  sir,"  replied  the  second  lieutenant. 

"  Let  go  the  topsail  sheets  !  Clew  up  !  Settle  awa_y 
the  halyards  !     Haul  taut  the  braces  I  " 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       31 

All  this  was  done  in  half  the  time  it  takes  to  read 
if,  and  the  light  sails  of  the  Josephine  were  furled. 
The  main  gafl-topsail  was  taken  in,  and  then  the 
schooner  had  only  her  jib,  foresail,  and  mainsail.  It 
was  not  necessary  to  take  these  in  until  the  peril  be- 
came more  imminent ;  but  Paul  ordered  the  foresail 
to  be  lowered,  and  reefed,  for  the  vessel  was  supposed 
to  lie  to  best  under  this  sail.  The  Young  America 
had    furled    everything    except  her   topsails,  jib,  and 

spanker. 

Professor  Hamblin  had  not  yet  recovered  from  his 
astonishment,  and  he  was  as  indignant  as  a  learned 
Greek  scholar  could  be.  Professor  Stoute  and  him- 
self were  the  only  persons  left  in  the  steerage  ;  but 
while  the  former  laughed,  the  latter  stormed. 

''  I  have  been  insulted,  Mr.  Stoute,"  said  the  learned 
gentleman.  "  That  boy  has  disobeyed  me,  as  though 
I  were  a  person  of  no  consequence." 

"  Whv,  he  was  perfectly  respectful  to  you,"  laughed 
the  good-natured  professor.  '*  You  must  remember 
that  he  is  the  captain  of  the  ship,  and  that  everything 
depends  upon  him." 

"  He  left  the  class  contrary  to  my  orders ;  and  not 
satisfied  with  that,  he  calls  all  the  rest  of  the  students 
on  deck,"  added  Mr.  Hamblin,  wrathfully.  "  I  had 
not  finished  the  Greek  lesson." 

"  But  there's  a  squall  coming  up,"  pleaded  Mr. 
Stoute. 

"  What  if  there  was  a  squall  coming  up.  The  prin- 
cipal assured  me  there  were  hands  enough  on  deck  to 
work  the  vessel  under  all  ordinary  circumstances." 

"  But  you  don't  understand  the  matter,  Mr.  Hamb- 
lin," continued  the  jolly  professor. 


22  DIKES   AND    DITCHES,   OR 

"  Do  you  mean  to  insult  me  too,  Mr.  Stoute?"  de- 
manded the  irate  fountain-head  of  Greek  literature. 

"  Certainly  not ;  I  beg  your  pardon,  Mr.  Hamblin," 
replied  Mr.  Stoute,  laughing  more  heartily  than  be- 
fore. "  I  do  not  profess  to  comprehend  these  nautical 
affairs ;  but  I  presume  it  was  necessary  to  call  all 
hands,   or  the  captain  would  not  have  done  so." 

"  It  was  not  necessary.  I  am  willing  to  take  the 
responsibility  of  that  assertion  myself,  and  I  shall  re- 
port this  disrespect  and  disobedience  of  the  captain 
to  Mr.  Lowington.  If  he  chooses  to  sustain  the  de- 
linquent in  such  gross  misconduct,  I  will  leave  the 
vessel  at  the  first  port  we  enter." 

"  Mr.  Lowington  will  certainly  do  justice  to  both 
of  you." 

"  Excuse  me,  Mr.  Stoute ;  he  must  do  justice  to  7ne, 
I  have  been  a  schoolmaster  and  a  professor  in  college 
all  my  lifetime,  and  I  do  not  wish  to  have  any  one 
speak  of  settling  a  case  between  me  and  one  of  my 
pupils.  There  is  only  one  side  to  such  a  question," 
replied  Mr.  Hamblin,  whose  dignity  was  terribly  dam- 
aged by  the  incident  of  the  afternoon. 

"  Well,  Mr.  Hamblin,  I  wish  to  be  respectful ;  but 
I  also  mean  to  be  candid.  I  feel  compelled  to  say 
that  I  believe  you  are  all  wrong." 

"  All  wrong,  sir  !  " 

*'  Yes,  sir ;  all  wrong.  Look  at  the  question  for 
one  moment." 

"  I  don't  wish  to  look  at  it.  Between  teacher  and 
pupil  there  can  be  no  issues  of  any  kind.  It  is  my 
place  to  command,  my  scholar's  to  obey,  in  the  school- 
room.'* 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       2^ 

"  Now,  really,  Mr.  Hamblin,"  continued  the  laugh- 
ing professor,  rubbing  his  hands,  as  though  he  en- 
joyed the  controversy,  "  while  I  agree  with  you  on  the 
general  principle,  I  must  difler  from  you  in  its  appli- 
cation to  this  particular  case.  Your  pupil  is  the  com- 
mander of  the  vessel.  Our  very  lives  depend  upon 
his  prudence  and  skill.  It  was  necessary  to  take  in 
sail." 

"  Very  well.  Wasn't  half  the  crew  on  deck  for  that 
purpose?"  interposed  Mr.  Hamblin. 

''  But  who  shall  determine  whether  it  is  necessary 
or  not  to  take  in  sail?" 

"  The  officer  who  has  the  care  of  the  vessel  for  the 
time  being,  of  course.  Then  there  are  Mr.  Cleats, 
and  Mr.  Gage,  and  the  servants  to  help  them  reduce 
the  sails,  if  needed.  There  is  not  the  least  necessity 
for  disturbing  the  classes." 

"  But  no  one  except  the  captain  can  give  the  order 
to  take  in  a  single  sail  in  the  daytime.  This  vessel  is 
under  naval  discipline,  you  are  aware  ;  but  I  think  you 
cannot  have  read  the  rules.  Here  they  are,"  added 
Mr.  Stoute,  taking  the  printed  regulations  of  the  ship 
from  his  pocket.  "  Officer  of  the  Deck.  He  is  not 
to  make  or  take  in  sail  in  the  daytime,  except  in 
a  squall,  without  directions  from  the  captain  ;  but 
in  the  night  he  may  take  in  sail,  acquainting  the 
captain  with  his  reasons,  which  he  must  enter  on 
the    log." 

"Well,  this  is  a  squall  —  isn't  it?"  growled  Mr. 
Hamblin. 

"  Perhaps  it  will  be ;  but  it  seems  to  me  quite 
proper    that    the    captain    should    go    on    deck    when 


24  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

there  is  any  danger.  For  my  part,  I  have  some 
regard  for  my  fat  body,  and  I  don't  care  about  leaving 
it  here  at  the  bottom  of  the  German  Ocean,"  chuckled 
Mr.  Stoute  ;  and  he  always  laughed  with  especial  gusto 
when  he  had  said  anything  which  he  thought  was 
funny.  "  The  captain  can  leave  any  of  my  classes 
when  he  is  sent  for  to  look  out  for  the  vessel." 

"  Mr.  Stoute,  this  is  a  question  of  discipline  ;  and 
higher  considerations  than  those  of  merely  personal 
comfort  and  security  should  be  brought  to  bear  upon 
it.  It  would  be  impossible  for  me  to  impart  to  my 
pupils  a  knowledge  of  that  noblest  language  of  the 
historic  past,  if  they  are  to  be  permitted  to  leave  the 
class  when  they  choose  to  do  so.  I  shall  refer  this 
matter  to  Mr.  Lowington  for  his  decision.  He  must 
suspend  the  captain,  or  he  must  suspend  me.  If  I 
cannot  control  my  scholars,  I  will  not  attempt  to  in- 
struct. It  would  be  preposterous  to  do  so.  I  shall 
take  a  boat,  and  go  on  board  of  the  ship  at  once,  for 
this  difficulty  admits  of  no  delay." 

Professor  Hamblin,  in  high  dudgeon,  took  his  hat, 
and  went  up  the  ladder.  Mr.  Stoute  shook  his  fat 
sides,  laughing  at  the  ire  of  his  distinguished  and 
learned  associate.  He  was  desirous  of  seeing  his 
companion  start  for  the  ship  in  the  approaching  tem- 
pest, and  he  followed  him  on  deck. 

"  Captain  Kendall,"  said  Mr.  Hamblin,  sternly,  as 
he  walked  up  to  the  young  commander,  heedless  of 
the  rattling  thunder  and  the  flashing  lightning. 

Paul  bowed  politely,  and  looked  at  the  professor, 
intimating  that  he  was  ready  to  hear  him.  It  was 
noticeable  that  Mr.  Hamblin  always  called  the  com- 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       25 

mander  "  Mr.  Keiulall  "  when  he  was  in  the  steerage 
attending  to  his  studies,  and  "  Captain  Kendall  "  on 
deck,  or  in  the  cabin.  The  professor  intended  to  in- 
dicate, by  this  choice  of  terms,  that  he  was  captain 
during  school  hours. 

-'  Captain  Kendall,  I  desire  a  boat  immediately," 
added  Mr.  Hamblin. 

"  A  boat !  "  exclaimed  Paul,  astonished  at  tlie  re- 
quest at  such  a  time. 

"  I  said  a  boat.  Captain  Kendall.  I  purpose  to  refer 
the  matter  of  your  disobedience  to  Mr.  Lovvington 
without  any  unnecessary  delay." 

"  But,  Mr.  Hamblin,  there  is  a  squall  coming  up." 

"  I  am  aware  of  that ;  but  I  demand  the  boat." 

"  It  would  be  dangerous,  sir.  The  boat  would  cer- 
tainly be  swamped." 

"  I  will  take  the  responsibility  of  that." 

"  I  should  be  very  happy  to  furnish  the  boat,  sir  ; 
but  I  cannot  expose  a  crew  to  such  a  storm  as  will 
soon  break  upon  us,"  replied  Paul. 

''  You  refuse  —  do  you?  "  demanded  the  professor, 
angrily. 

"  I  feel  compelled  to  do  so,  sir." 

"  In  my  hearing,  Mr.  Lowington  Instructed  you  to 
furnish  the  professors  with  a  boat  at  any  time  when 
they  desired  it." 

"  I  will  furnish  the  boat,  sir  ;  but  I  will  not  expose 
the  crew  to  such  peril.  I  will  hoist  out  the  third  cutter 
for  you,  sir,  if  you  wish." 

"  I  demand  a  sufficient  number  of  sailors  to  row  the 
boat." 

"  You  will  pardon  me,  sir  ;  but  I  will  not  send  any 


i6  DIKES   AND    DITCHES,    OR 

seamen  into  a  boat  until  the  squall  is  over.  It  is 
unreasonable  to  ask  such  a  thing." 

"  Unreasonable,  sir  !  How  dare  you  tell  me  I  am 
unreasonable?"  stormed  the  professor,  stamping  his 
foot  upon  the  deck. 

Paul  bowed,  but  made  no  reply.  He  was  placed  in 
a  very  disagreeable  and  painful  position.  He  knew 
that  it  was  madness  to  send  a  boat  off  while  the  squall 
was  impending.  Mr.  Hamblin  was  wrathy.  The 
long  billows  were  black  and  smooth,  and  the  sails 
hung  idly  on  the  gaffs.  There  was  no  danger  then, 
and  the  learned  gentleman  had  been  so  fortunate  as 
never  to  see  any  of  the  perils  of  the  ocean.  His  pas- 
sage to  England  in  the  steamer  had  been  a  remarka- 
bly pleasant  one.  Nothing  like  a  gale,  or  even  a  high 
wind,  had  interrupted  its  serenity,  and  the  professor 
had  imbibed  a  certain  contempt  for  the  perils  of  the 
ocean.  He  had  never  seen  them  ;  and,  if  mere  boys 
were  able  to  work  such  a  vessel  as  the  Josephine,  a 
learned  man  like  himself  need  not  tremble  in  their 
presence. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       2/ 


CHAPTER   II. 

A    SqUALL    IN    THE    GERMAN    OCEAN. 

MR.  CLEATS  !  "  said  Professor  Hamblin,  in  the 
most  sternly  solemn  and  impressive  maimer,  as 
he  rushed  up  to  the  adult  boatswain  of  the  Josephine 

"  Here,  sir  !  "  responded  the  old  salt,  touching  his 
cap  as  politely  as  though  the  learned  gentleman  had 
been  an  admiral. 

"  I  want  a  boat,  sir,"  continued  the  professor, 
fiercely. 

'•  Your  honor  must  apply  to  the  captain,"  answered 
Cleats,  touching  his  cap  again. 

''  I  have  applied  to  him,  and  he  has  refused  me.  I 
desire  you  to  take  a  boat,  and  row  me  to  the  ship. 
The  carpenter  can  assist  you." 

''  Bless  your  honor's  heart,  I  can't  go  without  the 
captain's  orders,"  added  Cleats,  opening  his  eyes  as 
wide  as  though  he  had  been  invited  to  head  a  mutiny. 

''  I  will  protect  you  from  any  harm,  Mr.  Cleats.  I 
will  represent  the  matter  to  Mr.  Lowington." 

'*  I  never  do  anything,  your  honor,  without  orders 
from  the  captain.  It  would  be  mutiny  for  me  to  do 
so,  and  I  should  be  hung  at  the  fore  yard-arm." 

"  Nonsense,  Mr.  Cleats  !  W  ill  vou  listen  to  reason?  " 

"  Sartain,  your  honor.     I  always  listen  to  reason ; 


ZS  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

but  there  isn't  any  reason  in  leaving  the  ship  without 
the  captain's  orders." 

"  But  the  cajDtain  says  I  may  have  the  boat ;  and  I 
only  want  a  couple  of  men  to  row  it." 

''  1  will  pull  the  boat  with  the  greatest  pleasure,  sir, 
if  the  captain  orders  me  to  do  so  ;  or  the  first  lieu- 
tenant, for  that  matter,  sir.  I  always  obey  orders,  sir, 
if  it  sinks  the  ship." 

''  I  have  a  complaint  to  make  against  the  captain 
for  disobedience  of  my  orders,  and  he  will  not  permit 
me  to  go  on  board  of  the  ship  to  prefer  the  charge." 

"  Whew  !  "  whistled  the  boatswain,  as  long  and 
loud  as  tliough  the  sound  had  been  made  with  his 
own  shrill  pipe.  "  A  complaint  against  the  captain! 
I  beg  your  honor's  pardon,  but  that  can't  be.  Nobody 
can  have  a  complaint  against  the  captain." 

"  I  do  not  wish  to  argue  the  matter  with  you.  Will 
you  do  what  I  ask,  or  not?" 

"  I  beg  your  honor's  pardon,  but  I  will  not,"  replied 
Cleats,  who  seemed  to  have  no  doubt  in  regard  to  his 
own  course,  whatever  rupture  there  might  be  among 
the  powers  above  him. 

'•  That's  enough,"  growled  Mr.  Hamblin,  turning 
on  his  heel. 

"  There's  a  big  squall  coming,  your  honor,"  added 
Cleats,  loud  enough  for  the  professor  to  hear  him, 
"  The  boat  wouldn't  live  a  minute  in  it." 

"  I  am  not  afraid  of  the  squall,"  rephed  the  learned 
gentleman,  pausing.     "  Will  you  row  the  boat?" 

"  No,  sir ;  I  would  rather  not,"  answered  Cleats, 
shaking  his  head. 

At  this    moment  a   heavy   roaring,   rushing   sound 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       29 

came  over  the  sea  from  the  direction  of  the  hind.  The 
water  was  covered  with  a  dense  white  mist.  The 
sound  increased  in  volume  till  it  vied  with  the  boom- 
ing thunder,  and  the  surface  of  the  sea  was  lashed 
into  a  snowy  foam  by  the  coming  tempest. 

''  Down  with  the  jib  and  mainsail !  "  shouted  Cap- 
tain Kendall,  sharply. 

"  Stand  by  the  mainsail  halyards ! "  said  Terrill, 
tlirough  his  speaking  trumpet.  "  Man  the  jib  halyards 
^nd  dovvnhaul !  " 

"  x\li  ready,  sir,"  replied  the  second  lieutenant,  for- 
ward ;  for  all  hands  were  still  at  their  stations,  in 
anticipation  of  the  emergency. 

"  All  ready,  sir,"  added  the  fourth  lieutenant,  whose 
place  was  on  the  quarter-deck. 

"  Let  go  the  mainsail  halyards !  "  added  the  first 
lieutenant ;  and  the  order  was  repeated  by  the  fourth 
lieutenant.     "  Down  with  it,  lively  !  " 

The  heavy  sail,  assisted  by  twenty  pairs  of  willing 
and  ea^er  hands,  rattled  down  in  an  instant,  and  was 
speedily  secured. 

"  Let  go  the  jib  halyards  !  Haul  down  !  "  said  the 
second  lieutenant,  on  the  forecastle,  when  the  order  to 
take  in  the  jib  reached  him. 

The  hands  "walked  away"  with  the  downhaul, 
and   the  jib  was  on  the  bowsprit  in  an  instant. 

"  Lay  out  and  stow  the  jib  !  "  added  the  officer. 
"  Mind  your  eye  there  !      The  squall  is  upon  us  I  " 

The  roar  of  the  squall  —  heard  at  first  miles  away 
—  swept  along  over  the  ocean,  carrying  a  tempest  of 
foam  and  spray  before  it,  and  came  down  upon  the 
Josephine.     Though  she  carried  no  sail,  the  force  of 

3* 


30  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

the  wind  was  enough  to  heel  her  down,  while  the 
spray  leaped  over  her  decks  in  the  furious  blast.  The 
scene  w^is  gfrand  and  sublime.  The  thunders  roared  ; 
the  lightnings  seemed  to  hiss  in  their  fury,  as  they 
darted  through  the  moist  atmosphere  ;  and  the  wind, 
hardly  less  than  a  hurricane,  howled  in  unison  wiUi 
the  booming  thunderbolts. 

At  first,  on  the  long  swells  of  the  ocean,  which  a 
moment  before  had  been  as  smooth  and  glassy  as  a 
mirror,  thousands  of  little  white-capped  waves  gath- 
ered, throwing  up  volumes  of  fine  spray,  which  was 
borne  away  by  the  tempest ;  so  that  the  air  was  laden 
with  moisture.  Though  the  squall  came  heavy  in  tlie 
beginning,  it  did  not  attain  its  full  power  for  several 
minutes.  The  efiect  even  of  the  onslaught  of  the  tem- 
pest was  tremendous,  and  officers  and  crew  clung  to 
the  rigging  and  the  wood-work  of  the  vessel,  fearful 
that  the  savage  blast  would  take  them  bodily  from 
their  feet,  and  bear  them  away  into  the  angry  ocean. 

"  Down  with  the  helm  ! "  roared  Captain  Kendall 
to  the  quartermaster,  who,  with  four  of  the  strongest 
seamen,  had  been  stationed  at  the  wheel. 

The  action  of  the  fierce  wind  upon  the  vessel's  side 
was  powerful  enough  to  give  her  steerage-way  with- 
out any  sail,  and  her  head  came  up  to  the  gale,  so  that 
she  took  the  blast  on  her  port  bow.  Thus  fiir,  the 
effect  upon  the  ocean  did  not  correspond  with  the  vio- 
lence of  the  tempest ;  for  even  the  severest  blow  does 
not  immediately  create  a  heavy  sea.  But,  if  the  tem- 
pest continued  even  for  a  few  minutes,  this  result  was 
sure  to  follow.  There  is  no  especial  peril  in  a  squall, 
if  the  seaman  has  had  time  to  take  in  sail,  unless  in  a 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       3 1 

heavy  sea  ;  but  it  does  not  take  long  for  a  hurricane, 
m  the  open  ocean,  to  stir  up  the  water  to  its  maddest 
fury. 

Professor  Ilamblin  was  walking  up  and  down  in 
the  waist,  —  a  very  pretty  type  of  the  squall  itself,  — 
when  the  initial  stroke  of  the  tempest  came  upon  the 
Josephine.  His  "  stove-pipe  "  hat,  as  non-nautical  as 
anything  could  be,  which  he  persisted  in  wearing,  was 
tipped  from  his  head,  and  borne  over  the  rail  into  the 
sea.  This  accident  did  not  improve  his  temper,  and 
he  was  ou  the  point  of  asking  the  captain  to  send  a 
boat  to  pick  up  his  lost  tile,  when  the  full  force  of  the 
squall  began  to  be  expended  upon  the  vessel.  He 
found  himself  unable  to  stand  up  ;  and  he  reeled  to 
the  mainmast,  where  Professor  Stoute  was  already 
moored  to  the  fife-rail. 

"  Wouldn't  you  like  the  boat  now,  Mr.  Hamblin?" 
chuckled  the  jolly  professor,  hardly  able  to  speak  witlv 
out  having  his  words  blown  down  his  throat. 

"  I've  lost  my  hat,"  growled  the  learned  gentleman, 
almost  choked  with  ill-nature  within,  and  the  ill-wind 
without. 

"Ask  the  captain  to  send  a  boat  for  it,"  laugheu 
Mr.  Stoute.  "  There  he  stands  !  Upon  my  word,  he 
is  a  wonder  to  me  !  He  handles  the  vessel  like  an 
old  admiral  who  has  been  imbedded  in  salt  for  forty 
years  1  " 

"Any  boy  could  do  it !  "  snarled  the  irate  professor. 

"  It  is  fortunate  that  Captain  Kendall  went  on  deck 
when  he  did,"  added  Mr.  Stoute.  "  We  should  ah 
have  gone  to  the  bottom  if  they  hadn't  taken  in  sail  in 
season." 


^2  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

"  You  distress  yourself  with  mighty  bugbears," 
sneered  Mr.  Hauibhn.  "  I  am  very  sorry  to  see 
you  encouraging  insubordination  among  your  pupils, 
and  —  " 

And  a  blast  more  savage  than  any  which  had  before 
struck  the  vessel  ended  the  j^rofessor's  speech  ;  for, 
while  it  drenched  him  with  salt  water,  it  gave  him  all 
he  wanted  to  do  to  hold  on  for  his  life.  He  worked 
himself  round  under  -the  lee  of  the  mainmast,  and 
held  on  with  both  hands  at  the  fife-rail,  his  breath 
blown   down   into  his  lungs  by  the  wind. 

The  squall  was  not  one  of  those  which  come  and 
go  in  a  few  moments  ;  and,  in  a  short  time,  the  sea 
had  been  lashed  into  a  boiling,  roaring,  foam-capped 
maelstrom.  The  Josephine  rolled  and  pitched  most 
fearfully.  Below  there  was  a  fierce  crashing  of  every- 
thing movable,  while  the  winds  howled  a  savage 
storm-song  through  the  swaying  rigging.  By  the 
captain's  order,  the  crew  had,  with  great  difficulty, 
extended  several  life-lines  across  the  deck,  for  the 
safety  of  those  who  were  compelled  to  move  about 
in  executing  the  various  manoeuvres  which  the  emer- 
gency reciuired. 

The  angry  professor  began  to  cool  off  under  the 
severe  regimen  of  the  tempest.  He  was  drenched  to 
the  skin  by  the  spray,  and  it  required  the  utmost  ac~ 
tivity  on  his  part  to  enable  him  to  keep  his  hold  upon 
the  fife-rail.  Now  the  vessel  rolled,  and  pitched  him 
upon  his  moorings ;  and  then  rolled  again,  jerking 
him,  at  arm's  length,  away  from  them,  his  muscles 
cracking  under  the  pressure.  Professor  Stoute,  deter- 
mined to  be  on   the  safe  side,  had  passed   the  end  of 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND   AND    BELGIUM.       33 

the  lee  topgallant  brace  around  his  botly,  and  secured 
himself  to  one  of  the  belaying  pins.  Nothing  ever 
disturbed  his  equanimity,  and  though  he  was  doubt- 
less fully  impressed  by  the  sublimity  of  the  storm,  he 
was  just  as  jolly  and  good-natured  as  ever. 

The  captain  and  the  executive  officer  were  holding 
on  at  one  of  the  life-lines  on  the  quarter-deck.  Paul 
looked  as  noble  and  commanding  as  though  he  had 
been  a  foot  taller,  with  a  full  beard  grown  upon  his 
face.  He  appeared  to  be  master  of  the  situation,  and 
Professor  Stoute  regarded  him  with  an  admiration 
strongly  in  contrast  with  the  disgust  of  his  fellow- 
teacher.  The  competent  captain  of  the  ship  is 
always  little  less  than  a  miracle  of  a  man  to  his  pas- 
sengers, especially  in  a  storm,  when  he  is  confident 
and  self-reliant.  They  feel  that  everything  —  their 
very  lives,  and  the  lives  of  those  they  love  —  are  de- 
pendent upon  him,  and  they  look  up  to  him  as  to  an 
oracle  of  skill  and  wisdom. 

"  It's  coming  heavier  and  heavier,"  said  Terrill,  as 
the  Josephine  gave  a  fearful  lurch. 

''  Ay,  ay  !  It's  nothing  less  than  a  hurricane,"  re- 
plied Paul. 

"  It's  the  biggest  squall  I  ever  was  in,"  added  Ter- 
rill, blowing  the  salt  w^ater  out  of  his  mouth,  after  a 
pint  of  spray  had  slapped  him  in  the  face. 

"  It  is  kicking  up  an  awful  sea." 

"  That's  so." 

"  Keep  your  helm  hard  down,  Blair !  "  shouted 
Paul  to  the  quartermaster  in   charge  of  the  wheel. 

"She  don't  mind  it  now,  sir!"  yelled  the  quarter- 
master, at  the  top  of  his  lungs. 


34  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

"  She's  MVmg  ofi;  Mr.  Tenill,"  added  Paul. 

^'  I  see  she  is,  sir." 

'^  We  must  keep  her  head  up  to  it,  or  our  decks  will 
be  washed.     Hard  down,  Blair  !  " 

"  She  don't  mind  it,  sir  !  " 

"  Set  the  close-reefed  foresail,  Mr.  Terrill,"  said  the 
captain.     "  But  be  careful  of  the  hands." 

Terrill,  with  the  trumpet  in  his  hand,  sprang  from 
the  life-line  to  the  fife-rail,  so  as  to  be  nearer  to  the 
hands  who  were  to  execute  the  captain's  order.  The 
unpleasant  plight  of  Mr.  Hamblin  attracted  his  atten- 
tion, in  spite  of  the  pressure  of  the  emergency.  His 
gyrations,  as  he  bobbed  about  under  the  uneasy  mo- 
tions of  the  vessel,  gave  him  a  ludicrous  appearance, 
which  even  the  positive  expression  of  suffering  on  his 
face  did  not  essentially  mitigate.  He  had  evidently 
come  to  a  realizing  sense  of  the  perils  of  the  sea, 
and  was  a  pitiful  sight  to  behold. 

"  Man  the  foresail  outhaul !  "  shouted  Terrill, 
through  his  trumpet.     "  Mr.  Martyn  !  " 

"  Here,  sir !  "  replied  the  second  lieutenant ;  but 
his  voice  sounded  like  a  whisper  in  the  roar  of  the 
hurricane. 

"  Double  the  hands  on  the  outhaul ! "  added  Terrill. 
"  Stand  by  the  brails  !  " 

"  All  ready,  forward,  sir !  "  reported  Martyn. 

"  Stand  by  the  fore-sheets  !  —  Mr.  Cleats  I  "  contin- 
ued the  executive  officer. 

"  Here,  sir !  "  said  the  old  sailor,  who,  with  the  car- 
penter, was  holding  on  at  the  weather-rail. 

"  Will  you  and  Mr.  Gage  assist  at  the  sheet?" 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir !  This  is  heavy  work.  I  hope  she'll 
carry  that  foresail." 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       35 

"  She  must  carry  it,  or  carry  it  away,"  added  Ter- 
rill.     "  We  are  falling  off  badly." 

"  So  we  arc  ;  it  ought  to  be  done,"  answered  the 
boatswain,  as  he  began  to  overhaul  the  sheets. 

It  was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  that  any  one  could 
stand  up  on  deck.  The  billows  were  momentarily  in- 
creasing, and  the  Josephine  had  fallen  off  into  the 
trough  of  the  sea,  and  rolled  helplessly  in  the  surging 
waves,  so  that  her  fore  yard  appeared  almost  to  dip  in 
the  brine.  The  outhaul  was  run  out  on  the  deck,  and 
manned  by  all  the  hands  that  could  get  hold  of  it. 
The  lee  sheet  was  extended  in  like  manner,  and  the 
whole  after  guard,  besides  the  two  adult  forward  offi- 
cers, were  called  to  walk  away  with  it. 

"  O,  dear  !  "  groaned  Mr.  Hamblin,  after  the  vessel 
had  given  an  unusually  heavy  lee  lurch,  the  jerk  of 
which  had  nearly  knocked  the  breath  out  of  his  body. 

"  What's  the  matter,  your  honor?  "  demanded  Cleats, 
who  always  pitied  a  landlubber  in  a  gale. 

"Do  you  think  there's  any  danger,  JSIr.  Cleats?" 
gasped  the  professor. 

"  Danger  !  Bless  your  honor's  heart !  there's  never 
any  danger  in  a  good  ship,  well  manned,"  replied  the 
veteran  tar,  as  he  knocked  a  kink  out  of  the  sheet. 
"  Look  at  the  captain  !  When  he  gets  scared,  you 
may." 

"  It  is  really  terrible  !  "  puffed  the  learned  professor. 

''  Wouldn't  your  honor  like  the  boat  now?  "  growled 
the  boatswain,  with  a  hearty  chuckle. 

"All  ready  at  the  sheets,  sir  !  "  screamed  Robinson, 
the  fourth  lieutenant,  who  had  charge  of  the  waist  at 
quarters. 


36  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

"  Hold  on,  Mr.  Terrill !  "  shouted  the  captain,  as  the 
Josephine  rolled  on  her  lee  side  till  the  water  bubbled 
up  in  her  scuppers.    "  Wait  till  I  give  you  the  word  !  " 

Paul  was  waiting  for  a  favorable  moment,  when  the 
blast  should  lull  a  little,  to  set  the  reefed  foresail. 

"  You  must  get  out  of  the  way,  gentlemen  !  "  said 
Terrill,  roaring  out  the  words  through  his  trumpet. 
"  The  sheet  blocks  will  knock  you  over  !  " 

Mr.  Stoute  unmoored  himself,  and  made  a  dive  at 
the  life-line,  where  the  captain  was  holding  on  ;  but, 
being  rather  clumsy  in  his  obesity,  he  missed  his  aim, 
and  was  thrown  into  th?  scuppers.  Mr.  Cleats  went 
to  his  assistance,  and  picked  him  up  while  he  lay 
upon  his  back,  with  his  legs  and  arms  thrown  up  like 
a  turtle  trying  to  turn  over.  Mr.  Hamblin  was  not 
encouraged  by  this  experiment  of  his  associate. 

"  Why  don't  you  go  below,  sir?"  shouted  Terrill, 
placing  his  trumpet  close  to  the  professor's  head. 

"  I  can't  move,"  replied  he. 

"  Mr.  Gage  will  help  you,"  added  the  lieutenant. 

The  carpenter  assisted  Mr.  Hamblin  to  the  com- 
panion-way, while  the  boatswain  had  succeeded  in 
rolling  Mr.  Stoute  up  to  the  same  point.  The  doors 
were  opened,  and  the  head  steward  helped  them  down 
the  ladder. 

"All  ready!"  shouted  Captain  Kendall,  when  the 
favorable  moment  Ciime  for  setting  the  foresail. 

"  Let  go  the  brails  !  "  bellowed  the  executive  officer. 
"  Haul  out !  " 

The  ready  seaman  promptly  obeyed  the  order,  at 
the  instant  when  tlie  vessel,  having  rolled  over  as  far 
as  her  centre  of  gravity  would  permit  her  to  go  in  the 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       37 

trough  of  the  sea,  was  poised  as  it  were  on  a  balance, 
waitins:  for  the  recoil  of  the  wave  that  was  to  throw 
her  down  on  the  weather  roll.  The  close-reefed  fore- 
sail flew  out  from  the  brails,  and  began  to  thresh  tre- 
mendously in  the  fierce  blast. 

"  Slack  the  weather  vang  !  "  continued  Terrill  to  the 
hands  who  had  been  stationed  at  this  rope.  "  Walk 
away  with  the  sheet !  " 

It  required  a  tremendous  pull  to  haul  home  the 
sheet  of  the  foresail,  banging  furiously  in  the  tem- 
pest ;  but  there  was  force  enough  to  accomplish  it, 
thougfh  not  till  the  vessel  had  made  her  weather  roll, 
which  lifted  half  the  line  of  seamen  from  their  feet. 
The  close-reefed  foresail  was  trimmed  so  as  to  lay  the 
schooner  to  with  her  head  up  to  the  sea.  The  billows 
were  increasing  in  volume  so  fearfully  that  it  was  no 
longer  prudent  to  permit  the  vessel  to  roll  in  the 
trough  of  the  sea,  where  she  was  in  danger  of  being 
overwhelmed  by  the  combing  waves. 

"  Mind  your  helm,  Blair  !  "  called  the  first  lieuten- 
ant, springing  aft  to  the  wheel.  ''  Port  a  little  !  Don't 
let  the  sail  be  taken  aback  !  " 

The  head  of  the  Josephine  came  up  handsomely  to 
the  sea,  and  it  was  thus  proved  that  the  double-reefed 
foresail  was  just  the  sail  for  such  an  emergency.  It 
was  only  to  be  demonstrated  whether  the  sail  would 
be  blown  out  of  the  bolt-ropes  or  not.  If  it  had  been 
an  old  one,  such  would  probably  have  been  its  fate  ; 
but  being  nearly  new,  and  of  the  best  material,  it 
stood  the  strain  to   the  end. 

"  ISlind  your  eye,  Blair  !  "  roared  Terrill.  ''  Star- 
board ! " 

4 


38  DIKES   AND    DITCHES,    OR 

''•  Starboard,  sir  !  "  replied  the  quartermaster. 

"  Touch  her  up  when  it  comes  so  heavy,"  added 
the  lieutenant. 

The  vessel  had  fallen  off,  and  took  the  wind  so  far 
on  the  beam  that  she  buried  her  scuppers  deep  in  the 
waves.  The  order  to  "touch  her  up,"  or  luff  her  up 
into  the  wind,  so  as  partially  to  spill  the  sail,  was 
given  to  ease  off  the  tremendous  pressure.  The  Jose- 
phine minded  her  helm,  and  luffed  so  that  she  righted 
herself. 

"  Steady,  Blair  !  "  called  the  lieutenant.  "  Port ! 
Not  too  much,  or  you'll  broach  her  to  !  " 

"  Sail  ho !  "  suddenly  shouted  several  of  the  seamen 
in  the  forward  part  of  the  vessel. 

"Where  away?" 

"  Right  over  the  lee  bow  !     She  has  capsized  !  " 

Paul  and  Terrill  ran  to  the  rail,  and  discovered  a 
small  vessel,  lying  over  on  her  beam  ends. 

"  That's  a  Dutch  galiot !  "  exclaimed  Cleats,  who 
promptly  recognized  the  craft.  "  That's  a  trick  they 
have  of  turning  bottom  upwards." 

"  Port !  "  shouted  Terrill,  who  did  not  take  his  eye 
off  the  foresail  of.  the  Josephine  for  more  than  an 
instant  at  a  time. 

The  attention  of  the  quartermaster  and  the  helms- 
man had  been  attracted  b\'  the  announcement  of  the 
wreck,  and  they  had  permitted  the  Josephine  to  luff 
up  initil  the  foresail  began  to  shake.  The  atmosphere 
was  so  thick  that  the  galiot  was  seen  but  for  an  instant, 
and  it  then  disappeared  in  the  dense  mists.  Captain 
Kendall  trembled  with  emotion  when  he  saw  the  dis- 
abled vessel  ;  but  it  was  impossible  to  do  anything  for 
her  until  the  hurricane  subsided. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BKLGIUNf.       39 

Fortunately  the  worst  of  it  had  ah-cady  passed,  and 
a  few  moments  later  it  ceased  almost  as  suddenly  as  it 
commenced.  The  rain  began  to  foil  in  torrents,  while 
a  fresh  breeze  and  a  tremendous  sea  were  all  that  re- 
mained of  the  hurricane  —  for  such  it  was,  rather  than 
an  ordinary  squall. 

"  Set  the  jib  and  mainsail,  Mr.  Terrill,"  said  Cap- 
tain Kendall.  "  We  must  endeavor  to  find  that 
wreck." 

These  sails  were  accordingly  hoisted,  the  Josephine 
came  about,  and  stood  oft'  in  the  direction  towards 
wdiich  the  galiot  was  supposed  to  have  drifted.  The 
Youno-  America  had  not  been  seen  since  the  squall 
came  up  ;  but  Paul  conjectured  that  she  had  run  away 
before  it.  He  was  deeply  interested  in  the  fate  of 
those  on  board  of  the  wreck,  and  trusted  he  should 
be  able  to  render  them  some  assistance,  if  all  on  board 
of  her  had  not  ah'eady  perished. 

The  rain  poured  down  furiously  ;  but  it  did  not 
dampen  the  enthusiasm  of  the  young  officers  and 
crew,  though  they  were  already  drenched  to  the  skin. 
The  reefed  foresail  was  taken  in,  for  it  was  found  that 
the  jib  and  mainsail  were  all  the  schooner  needed. 
She  stood  on  for  an  hour  or  more,  without  obtaining 
a  sight  of  the  wreck,  though  every  eye  on  board  was 
strained  to  catch  the  first  glimpse  of  it. 

"  We  must  have  passed  her,"  said  the  captain. 
"  It  is  so  thick  we  can't  see  her,  even  if  we  should 
2:0  within  half  a  mile  of  her." 

"  Come  about,  and  stand  a  little  more  to  the  south- 
ward !  "  added  Captain  Kendall."  Let  the  fog-horns 
be  blown.     We  may  get  a  signal  of  some  kind  from 


40  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

"  I  am  afraid  they  were  lost  overboard  ;  and  that 
there  is  no  one  left  to  make  a  signal,"  answered  Tcr- 
rill,  sadly. 

The  vessel  was  put  about,  and  headed  as  indicated 
by  the  captain.  The  fog-horns  were  blow^n  at  inter- 
vals, and  every  one  on  board  listened  eagerly  for  a 
reply.  These  eftbrts  were  not  unavailing,  for  a  re- 
sponse was  obtained  after  the  Josephine  had  run  half 
an  hour  on  her  present  course.  A  hoarse  shout  was 
heard  on  the  weather  beam,  which  was  unmistakably 
a  cry  of  distress. 

"  Steady  as  she  is !  "  said  Paul  to  the  executive  offi- 
cer, as  soon  as  the  sounds  w^ere  reported  to  him,  and 
the  direction  from  which  they  came. 

"Are  3'ou  not  going  about.  Captain  Kendall?" 
asked  Terrill,  with  a  look  of  anxiety  on  his  dripping 
face. 

"  Certainly  ;  but  if  we  go  about  here,  we  should 
fall  to  leeward   of  the  wreck,"  replied  Paul. 

The  Josephine  stood  on  for  a  few  moments  longer, 
and  then  tacked. 

"  Blow  the  horns,  and  keep  a  s.harp  lookout  for- 
ward," added  the  captain,  w4io  w^as  quite  as  anxious 
as  any  other  person  on  board  ;  but  he  kept  apparently 
cool,  in  deference  to  the  dignity  of  his  high  office. 

"  I  see  her !  "  shouted  Wheeler,  the  boatswain,  who 
had  gone  out  on  the  flying  jib-boom. 

"Where  away  is  she?"  demanded  Martyn,  from 
the  forecastle. 

"  Well  on  the  lee  bow,  sir." 

"  Are  we  headed  for  her?  " 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir  !  We  shall  go  clear  of  her  to  wind 
ward." 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.      4I 

"  Wreck  on  the  lee  bow,  sir,"  reported  the  second 
lieutenant  to  Terrill,  who  in  turn  reported  to  the 
captain. 

"  Clear  away  the  first  cutter,  Mr.  Terrill,"  said 
Paul. 

"  All  the  first  cutters,  ahoy ! "  shouted  the  boat- 
swain's mate. 

"  Mr.  Pelham  will  have  charge  of  the  boat,"  added 
Captain  Kendall,  who  had  great  confidence  in  the 
zeal  and  ability  of  this  officer. 

"  The  wreck  !  The  wreck  !  "  shouted  all  hands,  as 
the  disabled  galiot  came  into  view. 

On  the  rail  of  the  vessel,  whose  starboard  half  was 
completely  submerged  in  the  water,  were  two  men, 
making  violent  gestures,  and  shouting  to  the  crew  of 
the  Josephine.  Not  a  word  they  said  could  be  under- 
stood, but  it  was  easy  enough  for  Yankees  to  guess  the 
meaning  of  their  words.  The  schooner  was  thrown 
up  into  the  wind,  the  jib  lowered,  and  she  lay  to  under 
the  mainsail.  Pelham  and  the  crew  of  the  first  cutter 
took  their  places  in  the  boat,  and  w^ere  lowered  into 
the  stormy  sea.  The  falls  were  cast  off'  the  instant 
she  struck  the  water ;  the  coxswain  gave  his  orders 
rapidly,  and  the  cutter  went  oflf,  rising  and  falling  on 
the  huge  waves  like  a  feather. 

The  distance  was  short ;  but  even  this  was  a  hard 
pull  in  such  a  violent  sea.  Pelham  was  cool  and 
steady,  and  his  self-possession  encouraged  the  crew  to 
their  best  efforts.  The  boat  ran  up  under  the  lee  of 
the  wreck,  and  made  fast  to  one  of  the  masts.  As 
soon  as  it  was  secured,  both  of  the  men  on  the  rail 
began  to  jabber  in  an  unintelligible  language. 

4» 


^2  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

''^  Parlez-voiis  fran^als?*^  shouted  Pelham,  who 
had  some  knowledge  of  the  polite  language. 

But  the  men  made  no  response  ;  and  it  was  evident 
that  no  long  speeches  need  be  made  on  the  present  oc- 
casion. Pelham  made  signs  to  them  to  come  down 
into  the  boat,  which  they  did.  They  were  not  satis- 
fied, but  continued  to  talk  in  their  Own  language,  and 
to  point  earnestly  to  the  after  part  of  the  wreck.  One 
of  them  repeated  a  word  so  many  times,  that  the  officer 
of  the  boat  was  enabled  at  last  to  separate  it  from  the 
confused  jumble  of  sentences. 

"  VrowP^'  said  he. 

The  man  nodded  earnestly,  and  pointed  with  re- 
doubled vigor  to  the  after  part  of  the  galiot. 

Vrow  means  wife  ;  and  Pelham  concluded  that  the 
skipper's  lady  was  In  the  cabin,  but  whether  dead  or 
alive  he  did  not  know. 


:rOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       43 


CHAPTER   III. 

SOMETHING    ABOUT    DIKES. 

IT  was  evident  to  those  on  board  of  the  Josephine 
that  there  was  some  reason  for  the  delay  of  the 
boat  in  not  bringing  off  the  survivors  of  the  wrecl<. 
The  energetic  motions  of  the  men  on  the  disabled  ves- 
sel could  be  dimly  seen  through  the  mist  and  rain. 

"  Hoist  the  jib,  Terrill,"  said  Captain  Kendall. 
"  We  will  run  up  to  the  wreck,  and  ascertain  what 
the  trouble  is." 

"  Man  the  jib  halyards  !  Stand  by  the  jib  sheet !  " 
added  Terrill. 

'•  All  ready,  sir  !  " 

"  Let  go  the  downhaul !  Hoist  away  !  "  continued 
the  first  lieutenant.     "  Port  the  helm  !  " 

The  mainsail  was  trimmed,  the  jib  sheet  hauled 
down,  and  the  schooner  filled  away  again.  She  ran 
close  under  th-e  lee  of  the  galiot,  just  far  enough  off 
to  clear  her  masts. 

"What's  the  matter,  Mr.  Pelham?"  called  Terrill 
through  his  trumpet. 

"  There's  a  woman  in  the  cabin,"  replied  Pelham. 

"Clear  away  the  gig!"  said  Captain  Kendall,  as 
the  Josephine  passed  out  of  hailing  distance  of  the 
wreck.     "  Mr.  Marty n  will  take  charge  of  the  boat." 


44  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 

The  gig's  crew  were  piped  away,  and  the  falls  \v..  re 
manned.  The  second  lieutenant  stood  ready  at  the 
gangway  to  take  his  place  in  the  boat.  The  operation 
of  hoistin":  out  a  boat  was  not  so  difficult  and  dano-er- 
ous  as  it  had  been  when  the  first  cutter  went  off,  for 
the  sea  was  every  moment  abating  its  fury. 

"  Mr.  Cleats  and  Air.  Gage  will  go  in  the  boat  with 
a  couple  of  axes,"  added  the  captain,  who  had  been 
studying  the  position  of  the  wreck. 

The  first  lieutenant  gave  the  order  to  the  adult  for- 
ward officers,  who  presented  themselves  at  the  gang- 
way provided  with  their  implements,  ready  to  do  the 
work  assigned  to  them.  By  this  time  the  weather 
had  begun  to  clear  off,  and  a  streak  of  blue  sky  ap- 
peared in  the  west.  The  low  land  and  the  white  clitTs 
and  sand  hills  were  seen  again  ;  but  the  coast  was 
different  from  that  which  they  had  observed  before  the 
tempest  burst  upon  them. 

"  Air.  Aiartyn,  you  will  cut  away  the  masts  of  the 
wreck  ;  but  first  endeavor  to  save  the  woman  in  the 
cabin,"  added  the  captain,  when  the  crew  of  the  boat 
had  taken  their  places,  and  everything  was  in  readi- 
ness to  lower  the  boat. 

"  I  will  do  the  best  I  can,"  replied  Martyn,  as  he 
stepped  into  the  gig. 

"  If  the  galiot  does  not  right  when  the  masts  are  cut 
away,  report  to  me." 

The  boat  went  off  on  her  mission  of  mercy,  and 
those  left  on  board  of  the  schooner  watched  her  prog- 
ress WMth  the  most  intense  interest.  All  felt  that  they 
were  not  "playing  sailor"  then,  but  that  the  issues  of 
life  and  death  depended  upon  the  exertions  of  the  two 
boats'  crews. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       45 

"  Have  you  any  idea  where  we  are,  Captain  Ken- 
dall?'' asked  Terrill,  gazing  earnestly  at  the  distant 
shore,  which  was  now^  revealing  itself  witli  greater 
clearness. 

Paul  took  a  spy-glass  and  carefully  surveyed  the 
shore.  Terrill  took  another  glass,  and  both  of  them 
went  up  into  the  main  rigging,  so  as  to  obtain  a  better 
view  of  the  shore. 

"  There  are  some  church  steeples  near  the  coast, 
and  farther  back  there  is  a  great  number  of  them," 
said  Terrill. 

"  All  right,"  replied  Paul,  as  he  returned  to  the 
deck,  followed  by  the  £vst  lieutenant. 

"  Do  you  make  out  the  coast?"  asked  the  latter. 

'■  "b^es  ;  we  are  on  Thornton's  Ridge.  Throw  the 
lead  !  "  replied  Paul,  with  some  anxiety,  as  he  took 
the  glass  and  pointed  it  in  the  direction  opposite  the 
shore. 

"  By  the  mark  five  !  "  reported  the  quartermaster, 
who  was  heaving  the  lead  in  the  fore  chains. 

"  That  proves  it,"  exclaimed  Paul.  "  We  are  on 
Thornton's.  The  steeples  on  the  shore  are  Blanken- 
burg,  and  those  farther  off  are  the  Bruges  steeples. 
We  are  about  twelve  miles  to  the  eastward  of  the 
North  Hinder,  where  there  is  a  light-vessel.  We  have 
been  drifting  to  the  southward.  We  will  tack  now, 
and  stand  over  to  windward  of  the  w^reck." 

The  Josephine  went  about  again,  and  stood  up  to 
tlie  point  indicated  by  the  captain.  The  wind  had 
now  subsided  to  a  gentle  breeze,  and  the  sea  was 
abating  its  violence  in  a  corresponding  degree.  The 
lead  was  thrown  continuallv.  but  not  less  than  three 


46  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 

fathoms  Was  indicated  at  any  time.  Cleats  and  Gage, 
with  their  sharp  axes,  were  dealing  heavy  blows  at  the 
masts  of  the  galiot,  while  the  crew  of  the  gig  and  first 
cutter  Were  clearing  away  the  standing  rigging.  By 
the  time  the  schooner  reached  the  position  to  wind- 
ward of  the  wreck,  the  work  had  been  accomplished. 
The  two  boats  had  backed  away  from  the  wreck,  and 
suddenly  the  hull  righted.  A  few  more  strokes  of  the 
axes  severed  the  shrouds,  which  could  not  be  reached 
while  the  vessel  lay  upon  her  side. 

Pelham,  who  was  on  the  deck  of  the  vessel  when 
she  righted,  rushed  to  the  companion-way,  which  had 
been  submerged  before.  He  was  closely  followed  by 
the  two  men.  The  cabin  was  half  full  of  water  ;  but 
he  found  there  a  woman  and  a  young  girl  of  sixteen, 
wdio  had  been  clinging  for  life  to  an  upper  berth.  The 
gallant  lieutenant  plunged  up  to  his  middle  in  the 
water,  and  bore  the  girl  to  the  ladder.  At  the  same 
time,  the  older  of  the  men  performed  a  similar  service 
for  the  woman.  He  was  evidently  the  husband  of  the 
woman  and  the  fiither  of  the  girl.  When  he  returned 
to  the  deck,  he  embraced  the  woman  and  the  girl,  and 
lavished  upon  them  the  most  tender  caresses. 

"  Mr.  Pelham,  you  will  convey  these  people  to  the 
Josephine,  and  report  what  has  been  done  to  the  cap- 
tain," said'Martyn,  who  was  the  superior  officer. 

The  first  cutter  was  hauled  up  to  the  gangway  of 
the  galiot,  and  Pelham  by  signs  invited  the  fiimily  to 
embark.  They  comprehended  his  meaning,  and  the 
females  were  assisted  into  the  boat.  The  older  man, 
who  was  apparently  the  skipper  of  the  vessel,  exhibit- 
ed some  reluctance  at  leaving  his  craft.     His  heart 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       47 

seemed  to  be  broken  by  the  calamity  which  had  be- 
Adlen  him,  and  he  wept  bitterly,  uttering  piteous  ex- 
clamations, which  could  not  be  understood  by  the 
Josephines,  as  Pelham  hurried  him   into  the  cutter. 

The  party  continued  their  sad  wailings  till  the  boat 
leached  the  schooner.  The  women  were  assisted  to 
the  deck,  where  they  stood  staring  with  blank  amaze- 
ment at  the  vessel  and  her  crew.  The  skipper  was 
bewildered  by  the  misfortune  that  overshadowed  him. 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you,  sir,"  said  Paul,  as  the  dis- 
consolate captain  came  up  the  accommodation  ladder. 

"  No  use.  Captain  Kendall,"  said  Pelham,  smiling. 
"  They  can't  speak  a  word  of  English." 

"  Do  you  know  anything  about  the  vessel  ?  "  asked 
Paul. 

"  I  read  her  name  on  the  stern,  as  we  came  back, 
and  wrote  it  down  ;  for  a  Yankee  would  choke  to 
death  in  uttering  it,"  replied  Pelham,  as  he  produced 
a  piece  of  wet  paper.  "It  is  the  '  Wei  tevreeden, 
Dordrecht.' " 

"  That's  Dutch.     She  hails  from  Dort,"  added  Paul. 

"  Where  are  the  professors?  "  asked  Terrill.  "  Can 
they  speak  Dutch?  " 

The  professors,  who  had  seen  enough  of  rough 
weather  for  one  day,  had  been  making  themselves  as 
comfortable  as  possible  in  the  cabin.  The  Dutchman 
and  his  family  were  conducted  below  by  the  first  lieu- 
tenant. 

"What  have  you  here?"  demanded  Mr.  Stoute, 
who  had  just  come  from  his  berth,  in  which  he  had 
bolstered  himself  up,  in  order,  as  he  expressed  it,  to 
know  exactly  where  he  was. 


48  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 

''  Wc  have  just  saved  them  from  the  wreck  of  a 
Dutch  galiot.  They  can't  speak  a  word  of  English, 
and  we  wish  you  to  tahv  to  them." 

'•In  Dutch?"  kuighed  ISlr.  Stoute.  "I  cannot 
do   it." 

''What  is  the  matter,  Mr.  Terrill?  "  inquired  Pro- 
fessor Hamblin,  who  had  also  taken  to  his  berth  to 
save  his  limbs  from  being  broken. 

"  A  vessel  has  been  wrecked,  and  we  have  saved 
tVk'o  men  and  two  women.  Can  you  talk  Dutch  ? " 
asked  the  first  lieutenant,  going  to  the  door  of  the 
professor's  state-room. 

]\Ir.  Hamblin  proved  to  be  no  wiser  than  his  asso- 
ciate, so  far  as  the  Dutch  language  was  concerned  ; 
and  it  was  found  to  be  impossible  to  hold  anv  com- 
munication with  the  wrecked  persons  except  by  signs. 
They  were  committed  to  the  care  of  the  steward,  b}'- 
whom  everything  was  done  to  render  them  comfortable. 
The  captain's  state-room  was  given  to  the  women,  and 
they  were  supplied  with  hot  coffee  and  other  refresh- 
ments. 

"  What  is  the  condition  of  the  wreck,  Mr.  Pelham  ?  " 
asked  Captain  Kendall,  as  soon  as  the  unfortunate 
persons  had  been  provided  for. 

"  She  is  half  full  of  water,"  replied  the  second  mas- 
ter. "  The  crew  of  the  gig  were  pumping  her  out 
when  we  left." 

"  Do  you  know  anything  about  her  cargo?" 

"  No,  sir.  Her  hatches  were  battened  down,  and 
we  could  not  see  what  was  in  the  hold." 

The  first  lieutenant  was  directed  to  detail  a  working 
party  for   the  wreck,  to   assist   in   pumping  her  out. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       49 

and  the  first  cutter  returned  to  the  galiot  with  sixteen 
hands.  Orders  were  sent  to  Martvn  to  use  everv  ex- 
ertion  to  save  the  vessel  and  her  cargo.  It  was  now 
nearlv  dark  ;  but  the  weather  was  favorable,  and  Paul 
hoped  to  get  the  dismasted  galiot  into  port  on  the  fol- 
lowing day. 

The  cutter  reached  the  wreck,  and  the  crew  of  the 
gig,  who  had  been  pumping  and  baling  diligently, 
were  relieved  by  fresh  hands.  The  work  went  on 
with  renewed  enersfv.  The  hatches  had  been  taken 
off,  and  the  cargo  was  found  to  consist  of  butter, 
cheese,  and  manufactured  goods.  The  boatswain  had 
explored  the  hold,  and  declared  that  the  merchandise 
was  not  badly  damaged.  The  galiot  had  taken  in 
less  water  than  was  supposed,  from  her  position  on  the 
waves.  After  four  hours  of  severe  toil  by  the  young 
seamen,  the  pumps  sucked.  The  hull  was  tight,  and 
the  working  party  were  greatly  encouraged  by  the 
success  of  their  efforts. 

The  boatswain  and  carpenter,  assisted  by  the  boys, 
rigged  a  jury-mast  out  of  the  foremast  of  the  galiot, 
which  had  been  saved  for  the  purpose.  A  jib  and 
foresail  were  bent  upon  it,  and  the  '•  Wei  tevreeden  " 
was  in  condition  to  make  a  harbor.  It  was  midnight 
when  the  work  was  completed,  and  the  report  sent  to 
Captain  Kendall.  Martyn,  Pelham,  and  a  crew  of 
ten,  to  be  assisted  by  Cleats  and  Gage,  were  detailed 
to  take  the  galiot  into  the  Scheldt. 

During  the  first  part  of  the  night  it  had  been  a  dead 
calm,  which  had  greatly  assisted  the  labors  of  the 
working  party.  About  four  o'clock,  on  the  morning 
of  Sunday,  a  light  breeze  from  the  westward  sprang 

5 


50  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 

up,  and  the  order  was  given  by  signal  for  the  galiot  to 
make  sail,  and  to  follow  the  Josephine.  There  was 
hardly  a  four-knot  breeze,  with  the  tide  setting  out ; 
and  the  progress  of  the  galiot,  under  her  short  sail, 
was  very  slow. 

Nothing  had  been  seen  of  the  Young  America  since 
the  storm  shut  down  upon  her  and  concealed  her  from 
the  view  of  those  on  board  of  the  Josephine.  Paul 
knew  that  Mr.  Lowington  v/ould  be  exceedingly  anx- 
ious about  him  and  his  vessel ;  but  he  was  proud  and 
happy  in  the  reflection  that  he  had  carried  the  Jose- 
phine safely  through  the  perils  which  had  surrounded 
her.  He  had  not  closed  his  eyes  during  the  night,  as 
indeed  no  one  connected  with  the  sailing  department 
of  the  schooner  had  done.  The  professors  and  the 
wrecked  party  had  all  turned  in  as  usual,  while  Paul 
kept  vigil  on  deck  with  the  first  lieutenant. 

''  Sail  ho  !  "  cried  the  lookout  forward,  about  seven 
o'clock  in  the  morning. 

A  small  vessel  was  discovered  approaching  the  Jo- 
sephine from  the  direction  of  the  shore,  or  rather  of 
the  mouth  of  the  Scheldt,  whose  western  estuary 
forms  a  broad  bay  about  twelve  miles  in  width.  As 
the  small  craft  came  near,  it  was  evident  that  she  was 
a  pilot  boat.  She  carried  a  red  flag  at  her  mast-head, 
on  which  was  a  number  in  white  figures.  On  her 
principal  sail  there  was  a  large  letter  "  P,"  and  under 
it  "  Antwerpen."  When  she  hove  in  sight,  the  jack 
was  hoisted  at  the  foremast-head  of  the  Josephine, 
which  is  the  signal  for  a  pilot.  As  the  little  cutter 
rounded  to,  the  words  "  Bateau  Piloted'  with  her 
number,  were  seen  on  the  stern. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       5 1 

She  was  a  Belgian  pilot-boat.  Tiie  mouth  of  the 
Scheldt,  and  its  course  for  forty  miles,  are  in  Holland, 
and  off  the  mouth  of  the  river  both  Dutch  and  Bel- 
gian pilots  offer  their  services  to  inward-bound  ves- 
sels ;  but  the  sea  pilots  take  vessels  only  to  Flushing, 
the  river  pilotage  being  a  separate  charge.  Mr.  Low- 
ington  had  instructed  Paul,  as  the  squadron  was  bound 
to  Antwerp,  to  prefer  a  Belgian  pilot,  who  would  take 
the  vessel  up  to  that  city,  and  charge  the  pilotage  in 
one  bill. 

A  canoe  put  off  from  the  "  Bateau  Pilote,"  and  a 
weather-beaten  Belgian  sailor  leaped  upon  the  deck. 
He  opened  his  eyes  very  wide  when  he  had  taken  a 
sinofle  oflance  at  the  vessel  and  her  crew.  He  seemed 
to  be  as  much  confounded  as  the  Liverpool  pilot  had 
been  on  a  similar  occasion.  The  professors  were  at 
breakfast  in  the  cabin,  and  not  a  single  man  appeared 
on  deck. 

"  L'Afnerique?''  said  the  pilot,  glancing  at  the  flag 
which  floated  at  the  peak. 

"  O?^/,"  replied  Paul,  laughing. 

"  Oh  est  h  capitauic,  7noiisieur?''  added  the  pilot, 
looking  around  him  again. 

"  ye  suis  capitaine^''  replied  Paul. 

'-'-  Est-il possible  r' 

"  C est  possible.  You  speak  English  ?  — parlez-vous 
a7iglais?''  added  Paul. 

"  I  speak  tm  pere,''  replied  the  pilot.  "  What  ves- 
sel that  is  ?  "  he  continued,  pointing  to  the  galiot,  which 
was  following  in  the  wake  of  the  Josephine. 

"  She  is  a  Dutch  vessel,  that  was  upset  yesterday. 
We   saved   her      7"ie  captain   ^^iud  his  family   are  on 


$2  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 

board,  but  none  of  us  luive  been  able  to  speak  a  word 
to  him." 

"  Where  bound  are  you?" 

"  To  Antwerp.  We  have  a  crew  on  board  of  the 
gahot.     We  will  not  attempt  to  take  her  to  Antwerp." 

'"  She  have  taken  a  pilot,"  said  the  Belgian,  as  an- 
other man  from  the  "  Bateau  Pilote "  boarded  her. 
"  She  shall  be  taken  to  Flushin^^." 

"  You  will  put  into  Flushing,  then,  so  that  I  can  ob- 
tain the  men  on  board  of  her." 

"I  will— yes." 

"Did  a  ship  —  the  Young  America  —  go  up  the 
river  last  night?"  asked  Paul. 

"  No  ;  no  ship.  We  see  a  ship  oft'  the  Rabs  when 
the  storm  came.  She  come  about,  and  go  to  sea  be- 
fore the  wind." 

This  was  what  Paul  supposed  the  Young  America 
had  done.  He  had  no  fears  in  regard  to  the  safety  of 
the  ship  as  long  as  she  had  plenty  of  sea  room.  She 
would  soon  return,  and  the  pilot-boat  would  be  able 
to  report  the  Josephine  to  the  anxious  people  on  board 
of  her.  The  Belgian  pilot  took  charge  of  the  vessel ; 
and  after  he  had  headed  her  towards  the  channel  by 
which  he  intended  to  enter  the  river,  he  began  to  ask 
questions  in  regard  to  the  juvenile  officers  and  crew. 
He  did  not  speak  English  any  more  fluently  than  Paul 
did  French,  and  they  did  not  get  along  very  well. 
Mr.  Stoute,  having  finished  his  breakfast,  came  on 
deck.  He  taught  the  French  in  the  Josephine,  and 
was  very  happy  to  find  an  opportunity  to  air  his  vo- 
cabulary. 

'he  skipper  of  the  galiot  came   up  from  the  cabin 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       53 

soon  after  with  his  family.  As  the  pilot  spoke  Dutch, 
the  story  of  the  unfortunate  captain  was  obtained  r 
last.  The  vessel  had  been  caught  in  the  squall,  and 
knocked  down.  Two  men  on  deck  had  been  washed 
away  and  drowned.  The  companion-way  being  open, 
the  water  had  rushed  in  and  prevented  the  vessel  from 
risrhtino;.  The  women,  who  lived  on  board  all  the 
time,  as  is  frequently  the  case  with  the  families  of 
Dutch  skippers,  had  climbed  up  and  obtained  a  hold 
upon  the  berths  on  the  port  side  of  the  cabin.  By 
these  means  they  were  saved  from  drowning  ;  but  the 
cabin  doors,  being  on  the  starboard  side,  were  under 
water,  so  that  they  could  not  escape  while  the  vessel 
lay  on  her  beam-ends. 

The  Josephine,  followed  by  the  "  Wei  tevreeden," 
entered  the  river.  It  was  a  beautiful  day,  warm  and 
pleasant ;  and  the  officers  and  crew,  in  spite  of  the 
hardships  of  the  preceding  night,  were  eager  to  obtain 
their  first  view  of  the  new  country  whose  waters  they 
were  now  entering.  It  was  still  over  sixty  miles,  by 
the  course  of  the  Scheldt,  to  Antwerp  ;  but  the  sights 
on  the  river  and  on  the  shore  were  novel  and  interest- 
ing. The  vessels  which  sailed  up  and  down  the  river 
were  essentially  different  from  any  they  had  ever  seen, 
with  the  exception,  perhaps,  of  the  wrecked  galiot. 
They  looked  more  like  huge  canal-boats  than  sea-going 
vessels.  Some  of  them  had  wings,  or  boards,  at  their 
sides,  which  were  lot  down  when  the  craft  was  going 
on  the  wind,  thus  serving  the  same  purpose  as  a  centre- 
board. Others  v^ere  rigged  so  that  their  masts  could 
be  lowered  to  the  deck  in  passing  bridges. 

Maps,  guide-books,  and  other  volumes  of  reference 

r  * 


54  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

were  in  great  demand  among  the  students,  and  Pro- 
fessor Stoute  was  continually  questioned  by  all  hands. 
Mr.  Hamblin  was  too  grouty  to  permit  any  such  fa- 
miliarity, and  doubtless  he  was  saved  from  exposing 
his  ignorance  of  the  interesting  country  which  the 
voyagers  had  now  entered. 

The  West  Scheldt,  upon  whose  waters  the  Jose- 
phine was  now  sailing,  is  sometimes  called  the  Hond. 
On  the  left,  and  in  plain  sight  from  the  deck,  was 
Walcheren,  the  most  extensive  of  the  nine  islands 
which  constitute  the  province  of  Zealand,  the  most 
southern  and  western  division  of  the  kingdom  of 
Holland.  Zeeland,  or  Zealand,  means  sea-land;  and 
its  territory  seems  to  belong  to  the  ocean,  since  it  is 
onl}'^  by  the  most  persevering  care  that  the  sea  is  pre- 
vented from  making  a  conquest  of  it.  These  islands 
are  for  the  most  part  surrounded  and  divided  by  the 
several  mouths  of  the  Scheldt,  all  of  which  are  navi- 
gable. 

Our  readers  who  have  been  on  the  sea-shore  where 
the  coast  is  washed  by  the  broad  ocean,  or  any  con- 
siderable bay,  have  observed  a  ridge  of  sand,  gravel, 
or  stones  thrown  up  from  ten  to  twenty  feet  higher 
than  the  land  behind.  This  was  caused  by  the  action 
of  the  sea.  The  exterior  shore  of  Holland,  that  is, 
the  land  bordering  upon  the  open  ocean,  has  generally 
a  ridge  of  sand  of  this  description.  The  sand-hills  or 
hummocks  which  are  observed  on  the  shores  of  Hol- 
land and  Belgium  are  produced  by  the  ceaseless  beat- 
ing of  the  stormy  waves. 

In  Holland,  these  ridges,  or  chains  of  sand-hills,  are 
called  "  dunes."     They  extend,  with  little  interruption, 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IX    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       55 

from  the  Straits  of  Dover  to  the  Zuycicr  Zee.  The 
ridofe  is  from  one  to  three  miles  wide,  and  risin^^  from 
twenty  to  fifty  feet  in  height.  The  sand  of  which  the 
"  dunes  "  are  composed  is  generally  so  fine  that  it  is 
readily  blown  by  a  sharp  wind  ;  and  they  were  as 
troublesome  as  the  sands  of  Sahara  in  a  simoom.  In 
a  dry  and  wnndy  day,  the  atmosphere  would  become 
dim  from  the  sand  smoke  of  the  dimes,  and  the  mate- 
rial was  conve}-ed  in  this  manner  far  into  the  interior 
of  the  country,  covering  up  the  rich  soil,  so  that  it 
became  necessary  to  dig  up  the  sand.  To  overcome 
this  evil,  a  kind  of  coarse  reed  grass  is  annually  sown 
on  the  dunes,  which  forms  a  tough  sod,  and  prevents 
the  sand  from  beins:  blown  awav. 

The  dunes  form  a  natural  barrier  to  the  progress  of 
the  sea  ;  but  these,  of  themselves,  are  insufficient  to 
accomplish  the  purpose  ;  for  in  the  highest  tides  the 
waters  sweep  through  the  openings  or  valleys  between 
the  sand-hills.  Immense  dikes  and  sea-walls  are  erect- 
ed to  complete  the  security  of  the  country  from  the 
invasions  of  the  ocean.  The  embankments  which 
protect  the  islands  of  Zealand  are  over  three  hundred 
miles  in  leng'th  in  the  asfsri'eofate,  and  involve  an  an- 
nual  expense  of  two  millions  of  guilders  —  more  than 
eight  hundred  thousand  dollars — in  repairs. 

"  The  great  dike  of  West  Kappel  is  there,"  said  the 
pilot  to  Caj^tain  Kendall,  as  he  pointed  to  the  land  on 
the  northern  shore  of  the  estuarv. 

"  I  don't  see  anything,"  replied  Paul. 

"  There  is  nothing  particular  to  see  on  this  side  of 
the  dike,"  interposed  Professor  Stoute,  laughing  at  the 
astonishment  of  the  captain.  '•  What  did  you  expect 
to  see?" 


56  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 

"  I  hardly  know.  I  have  heard  so  much  about  thfe 
dikes  of  Holland,  that  I  expected  to  see  a  big  thing 
when  I  came  across  one  of  them,"  added  Paul. 

"  They  are  a  big  thing ;  but  really  there  is  very 
little  to  see." 

"  But  what  is  a  dike,  sir?"  asked  Paul,  curiouslv. 
"  I  never  supposed  it  was  anything  more  than  a  mud 
wall." 

"  It  is  nothing  more  than  that,  only  it  is  on  a  very 
large  scale,  and  it  must  be  constructed  with  the  nicest 
care  ;  for  the  lives  and  property  of  the  people  depend 
upon  its  security.  When  they  are  going  to  build  a 
dike,  the  first  consideration,  as  in  putting  up  a  heavy 
building,  is  the  foundation.  I  suppose  you  have  seen 
a  railroad  built  through  a  marsh,  or  other  soft  place." 

"  Yes,  sir ;  the  railroad  at  Brockway  went  over  the 
head  of  the  bay,  where  the  bottom  was  very  soft.  As 
fast  as  they  put  in  gravel  for  the  road,  the  mud  squashed 
up  on  each  side,  making  a  ridge  almost  as  high  as  the 
road  itself.  They  built  a  heavy  stone  wharf  at  Brock- 
way,  the  year  before  we  sailed,  and  the  weight  of  it 
lifted  up  the  bottom  of  the  shallow  bay  a  hundred  feet 
from  it,  so  that  boats  get  aground  there  now  at  half 
tide." 

"  That  is  the  idea  exactly.  The  foundation  is  not 
solid  ;  and  that  is  often  the  chief  diliiculty  in  building 
a  dike.  The  immense  weight  of  the  material  of  which 
it  is  constructed  crowds  the  earth  out  from  under  it, 
and  it  sinks  down  faster  than  they  can  build  it.  In 
such  places  as  this  they  find  it  necessary  to  drive  piles, 
to  build  the  embankment  on." 

"  They  must  cost  a  heap  of  money,  then." 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       5/ 

"  The  annual  expense  even  for  repairs  of  dikcj  in 
Holland  is  about  three  millions  of  dollars  of  our 
money.  Speaking  of  that  very  dike  of  West  Kappel," 
added  the  professor,  pointing  to  its  long,  inclined  es- 
carpment, "  it  is  said  if  it  had  been  originally  built 
of  solid  copper,  the  prime  cost  would  have  been  less 
than  the  amount  which  has  since  been  expended  upon 
it  in  building,  rebuilding,  restoring,  and  repairing  it. 
But  the  money  spent  on  dikes  is  the  salvation  of  Hol- 
land. The  entire  country  would  be  washed  away  in 
a  few  years,  if  they  were  suffered  to  decay." 

"  I  see  there  are  trees  growing  on  the  shore,  farther 
up  the  river,"  added  Paul. 

"  Those  trees  are  willows  ;  and  wherever  it  is  pos- 
sible for  them  to  thrive,  they  encourage  their  growth 
for  two  reasons  :  first,  because  the  roots  of  the  trees 
strengthen  the  dike  ;  and,  secondly,  because  the  willow 
twigs  are  wanted  in  repairing  and  securing  the  em- 
bankment. The  foundations  of  sea-dikes  vary  from 
a  hundred  and  twenty  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  in 
width.  The  rampart  is  made  of  clay,  which,  as  being 
impervious  to  water,  forms  the  entire  structure  when 
the  material  is  available  in  sufficient  quantities.  The 
maximum  height  of  the  dikes  is  forty  feet ;  but  of 
course  they  vary  in  this  respect  with  the  elevation  of 
the  land  to  be  protected  by  them." 

"  But  I  should  think  the  mud  and  clay  would  be 
washed  away  by  the  beating  of  the  sea." 

"  So  they  are  sometimes  ;  and  to  guard  against  such 
an  event,  which  is  a  calamity  in  this  country,  tlie  dike 
is  covered  with  a  kind  of  thatch-work  of  willow  twigs, 
which  has  to  be  renewed  every  three  or  four  years. 


58  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

Occasionally  the  outer  surface  of  the  embankment  is 
faced  with  masonry,  the  stone  for  which  has  to  be 
brought  from  Norway." 

"  A  ship  there  is  coming  in,"  interrupted  the  pilot, 
pointing  to  seaward. 

She  was  several  miles  distant,  standing  in  under  all 
sail.  She  was  examined  with  the  spy-glasses,  and 
every  one  was  rejoiced  to  learn  that  it  was  the  Young 
America. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       59 


CHAPTER    IV. 

UP    THE    SCHELDT    TO    FLUSHING. 

I  AM  very  glad  to  see  the  ship  again,"  said  Paul  to 
Professor  Stoute. 

"  I  supposed  she  would  get  in  before  us,  we  were 
detained  so  long  by  the  wreck,"  replied  Mr.  Stoute. 

"  Probably  she  stood  off  and  on  during  the  night, 
seeking  for  us,"  added  Paul,  as  he  again  looked 
through  the  spy-glass  at  the  ship.  "  She  seems  to 
be  sound  in  all  her  upper  works,  so  far  as  I  can  see." 

"  I  dare  say  the  ship  would  be  safe  enough  as  long 
as  Mr.  Lowington  and  Mr.  Fluxion  are  on  board  of 
her." 

"Yes,  sir;  I  didn't  suppose  any  harm  had  come 
to  her ;  but  Mr.  Lowington  will  naturally  be  very 
anxious  about  us.  He  has  made  us  out  by  this  time, 
and  is  satisfied  that  we  are  still  on  the  top  of  the 
water.  There  are  the  steeples  of  a  town,"  said 
Paul,  pointing  to  the  Walcheren  shore.  "  That  must 
be  Middleburg." 

"  This  island  was  inundated  in  iSoS,"  continued  Mr. 
Stoute,  after  the  pilot  had  assured  him  that  the  steeples 
seen  in  the  interior  of  the  island  were  those  of  Mid- 
dleburg. "  Though  the  sea  is  as  diligently  watched 
as  the  advance-o:uard   of  an  invading  army,  the  great 


6o  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

dike  of  West  Kappel  broke  through,  and  a  huge 
part  of  the  island  was  under  water.  Middleburg  has 
its  own  dikes  and  ditches,  the  former  constituting  the 
wall  of  the  town,  upon  the  top  of  which  there  is  a 
public  promenade.  This  dike  or  mound  kept  the 
water  out  of  the  city  after  the  sea-dike  had  given 
way.  The  inundation  rose  as  high  as  the  roofs  of 
the  houses  in  the  town,  but  was  fortunately  kept  at 
bay  by  the  strength  ol  the  walls." 

"Were  you  ever  in  Holland,  Mr.  Stoute?"  asked 
Paul,  with  a  significant  smile. 

"  Never,"  laughed  the  professor  ;  "  but  the  school- 
master must  not  be  abroad  when  boys  ask  as  many 
questions  as  the  students  on  board  of  this  vessel.  As 
soon  as  I  learned  that  we  were  coming  to  Holland,  I 
read  up  everything  I  could  find  relating  to  the  country, 
and  I  assure  you  my  interest  in  the  country  has  been 
doubled  by  my  studies.  We  have  in  our  library  quite 
a  collection  of  works  relating  more  or  less  directly  to 
Holland.  The  New  American  Encyclopaedia  contains 
very  full  and  reliable  articles  on  the  subject.  We  have 
a  full  list  of  Murray's  Hand-Books,  which  form  a 
library  in  themselves,  and  which  impart  the  most 
minute  information.  Indeed,  half  the  books  of  travel 
which  are  written  are  based  upon  Murray's  invaluable 
works.  Then  we  have  Motlej^'s  Histoiy  of  the  Dutch 
Republic,  and  the  two  volumes  of  his  United  Neth- 
erlands which  have  been  published.  My  knowledge 
of  Holland  and  Belgium  comes  mainly  from  these 
works." 

"  I  haven't  had  time  to  look  up  these  matters  yet. 
I  have  given   considerable  extra  time  to  my  French. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       6\ 

As  soon  as  wc  are  moored,  I  suppose  Mr.  2vlapps  will 
give  us  his  lectuie  ou  the  country  ;  and  I  intend  to 
make  that  the  basis  of  my  reading." 

"Then  I  will  not  say  anything  more  about  the 
dikes,"  laughed  Mr.  Stoute.  "  You  can  do  the  mat- 
ter up  more  systematically  by  your  intended  course." 

"  I  am  very  glad  to  get  all  I  can  without  the  troul^le 
of  hunting  it  up,"  replied  Paul,  as  he  glanced  again  at 
the  Younsf  America.  '•  I  mav  have  more  time  than  I 
want  to  study  up  these  subjects." 

"Why  so?" 

"  I  suppose  I  am  to  be  court-martialed  for  disobe- 
dience as  soon  as  ^Slr.  Lowington  arrives,"  replied 
Paul,  fixing  his  eyes  upon  the  deck.  "  Mr.  Hamblin 
has  not  spoken  to  me  since  I  left  the  class  yesterday 
afternoon." 

"  It  is  not  jDroper  for  me  to  say  anything  about  that 
to  you,  Captain  Kendall,"  added  Mr.  Stoute. 

"  I  feel  that  I  ha\'e  tried  to  do  my  duty  ;  and,  what- 
ever happens  to  me,  I  shall  endeavor  to  be  satisfied." 

Professor  Stoute  walked  away,  apparently  to  avoid 
any  further  conversation  on  the  disagreeable  subject. 
Paul  did  not  feel  quite  easy  about  the  difiiculty  which 
had  occurred  between  him  and  the  dignified  professor. 
He  had  hoped  and  expected  that  the  storm  would  jus- 
tify his  action  in  the  opinion  of  the  learned  gentleman  ; 
but  Mr.  Hamblin  carefullv  avoided  him,  and  he  was 
confident  he  intended  to  prefer  charges  against  him  as 
soon  as  the  principal  arrived. 

The  Josephine  was  now  entering  the  port  of  Flush- 
ing. The  pilot  was  talking  with  the  Dutch  skipper 
very  earnestly,  and  occasionally  glancing  at  the 
6 


62  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

"  Wei  tevreeden."  The  latter  seemed  to  be  very  un- 
easy, and  to  manifest  a  great  deal  of  solicitude  in 
regard  to  his  vessel,  notwithstanding  she  was  safe, 
though  the  cargo  had  been  damaged,  and  she  had  lost 
her  masts  and  part  of  her  standing  rigging. 

"  Captain  Schimmelpennink  to  you  wish  to  talk," 
said  the  pilot,  stepping  up  to  Paul. 

"Who?"  exclaimed  Paul,  almost  stunned  by  the 
sound  of  the  Dutchman's  name. 

The  pilot  repeated  it,  but  not  much  more  to  the  edi- 
fication of  the  young  commander  than  before. 
"  I  can't  talk  Dutch,"  laughed  Paul. 
"  I  for  you  will  speak  the  English,"  added  the  Bel- 
gian. 

This  was  hardly  more  encouraging  than  the  Dutch 
of  the  disconsolate  skipper ;  but  Paul  consented  to  the 
conference. 

"  The  galiot  to  you  belongs  for  the  labor  you  have 
to  save  him,"  continued  the  pilot. 

With  some  difficulty,  with  the  assistance  of  Mr. 
Stoute,  who,  however,  was  not  familiar  vs^ith  French 
nautical  terms,  Paul  learned  that  Captain  Schimmel- 
pennink was  much  disturbed  about  the  ultimate  dis- 
posal of  the  "  Wei  tevreeden."  According  to  maritime 
law,  recognized  by  all  countries,  the  captain,  officers, 
and  crew  of  the  Josephine  were  entitled  to  salvage 
for  saving  the  vessel.  As,  without  assistance,  it  was 
probable  that  the  galiot  would  have  been  totally  lost, 
the  salvors  would  be  entitled  to  the  greater  part  of  the 
value  of  the  wreck  when  it  should  be  sold.  One  half, 
two  thirds,  or  even  three  fourths,  is  sometimes  award- 
ed to  those  who  save  a  vessel,  the  proportion  depending 
upon  the  condition  of  the  wreck. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       63 

It  appeared  that  the  captain  of  the  gahot  was  iiuich 
distressed  on  this  account.  He  declared  that  he  was 
a  poor  man  ;  that  his  vessel  was  all  the  property  he 
had  in  the  world  ;  that  one  of  the  men  lost  overboard 
in  the  squall  was  his  own  brother,  and  the  other  his 
wife's  brother  ;  and  misery  had  suddenly  come  upon 
him  in  an  avalanche.  By  the  exertions  of  Martyn  and 
others  from  the  Josephine,  a  portion  of  the  sails  and 
standinsf  rigfcrinf]:  of  the  c^aliot  had  been  saved,  so  that 
only  about  one  fourth  of  the  value  of  the  vessel  had 
been  sacrificed  by  the  tempest.  But  now  the  skip- 
per was  in  great  trouble  because  two  thirds  or  three 
fourths  of  the  remaining  value  of  his  property  was  to 
be  decreed  to  the  salvors  by  a  maritime  court. 

Paul  did  not  feel  that  it  would  be  right  for  him  to 
settle,  or  even  discuss,  this  question,  and  he  referred 
the  skipper  to  Mr.  Lowington,  assuring  him  that  he 
was  a  fair  man,  and  would  deal  kindly  with  him. 
But  this  did  not  satisfy  the  unfortunate  man.  It  was 
bad  enough  to  lose  one  fourth  of  his  property,  —  for 
the  vessel  was  not  insured,  —  without  having  the 
greater  part  of  the  remainder  wrested  from  him  by 
a  court. 

"  All  hands,  moor  ship,  ahoy  !  "  shouted  the  boat- 
swain, when  the  schooner  was  approaching  one  of  the 
great  canals  of  Flushing,  or  Vlissingen,  as  the  Dutch 
call  it. 

The  anchor  was  let  go,  the  sails  lov/ered  and  stowed, 
and  the  Josephine  was  once  more  at  rest.  The  galiot 
came  in,  and  anchored  a  cable's  length  from  her. 
Communication  between  the  two  vessels  was  imme- 
diately  opened,   and    Lieutenant   Martyn    made    hi> 


64  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

report  of  the  voyage  since  he  sailed  from  Thornton's 
Ridge.  No  events  of  any  importance  had  occurred, 
and  his  story  coidd  not  be  said  to  be  at  all  sensational. 

In  less  than  an  hour  the  Young  America  ran  into 
the  port,  and  moored  near  the  Josephine.  The  mo- 
ment her  anchor  had  buried  itself  in  the  mud  of  the 
harbor,  her  officers  and  crew  were  in  the  rigging, 
gazing  earnestly  at  the  consort.  It  was  possible  they 
had  noticed  the  galiot  under  a  jury-mast,  and  in  some 
manner  connected  her  with  the  Josephine  ;  but  they 
could  have  had  no  other  clew  to  the  exciting  incidents 
which  had  transpired  since  the  two  vessels  parted 
company  the  day  before. 

"  I  desire  to  renew  my  request  for  a  boat.  Captain 
Kendall,"  said  Professor  Hamblin,  stiffly,  the  moment 
the  rattling  cable  of  the  ship  was  heard. 

"  Certainly,  sir.  I  shall  be  very  happy  to  furnish  a 
boat  for  you,"  replied  Paul,  politely.  "  Mr.  Terrill, 
you  will  pipe  away  the  first  cutters  for  Mr.  Hamblin." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  the  first  lieutenant,  touching  his 
cap.  "  Boatswain,  pipe  away  the  first  cutters  for  Mr. 
Hamblin." 

"  Mr.  Terrill,  you  will  pipe  away  the  crew  of  the 
gig  for  me.  I  will  go  on  board  of  the  ship,"  added 
the  captain. 

''  Yes,  sir,"  answered  Terrill.  "  Boatswain's  mate, 
pipe  away  the  gigsmen  for  the  captain." 

"  All  the  first  cutters,  on  deck,  ahoy  !  "  shouted  the 
boatswain. 

"  All  the  gigsmen,  on  deck,  ahoy  !  "  piped  the  boat- 
swain's mate. 

Professor  Hamblin  stamped  his  foot  on  deck  when 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       65 

he  heard  these  orders,  given  ahnost  in  the  same  breath. 
lie  did  not  seem  to  consider  that  there  was  anything 
to  be  done  ex,cept  to  attend  to  his  aflair. 

"  Captain  Kendall,"  said  he,  walking  up  to  the 
young  commander,  with  a  brisk,  nervous  step,  "  I 
wish  to  see  Mr.   Lowington   alone." 

"  Certainly,  sir ;  I  will  not  object  to  your  seeing  him 
alone.  If  I  can  do  anything  to  favor  your  views,  I 
shall  be  happy  to  assist." 

"  You  have  ordered  your  gig,  and  you  said  you 
were  going  on  board  the  ship,"  added  the  learned 
gentleman,  his  wrath  not  at  all  appeased  by  the  con- 
ciliatory reply  of  Paul. 

"  I  am,  sir." 

"  Am  I  to  understand  that  you  are  going  to  see  the 
principal  in  reference  to  my  communication  with 
him?"  demanded  Mr.  Hamblin. 

"  No,  sir.  It  is  my  duty  to  report  any  unusual 
event  which  occurs  in  the  navigation  of  this  vessel," 
answered  Paul,  respectfully. 

"  It  is  quite  proper  for  you  to  regard  your  own  dis- 
obedience as  an  unusual  event,"  retorted  the  professor. 

"  I  was  not  thinking  of  that,  sir.  I  am  quite  will- 
ing to  leave  that  matter  with  Mr.  Lowington,  and  to 
abide  by  his  decision.  I  refer  to  the  storm,  and  the 
w^reck  of  the  Dutch  galiot.  Those  were  unusual 
events." 

*'  It  would  be  more  proper,  and  more  respectful  to 
me,  for  you  to  defer  your  affairs  till  after  I  have  seen 
the  principal.  This  is  the  Sabbath  day,"  added  Mr. 
Hamblm,  solemnly.  "  I  do  not  desire  to  have  this 
controversy  opened  to-day." 


* 


66  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

"  Then,  sir,  I  suggest  that  you  defer  it  until  to- 
morrow," added  Paul. 

"  This  is  a  question  of  discipline,  and  admits  of  no 
delay.  If  the  professors  of  this  vessel  are  to  be  diso- 
beyed and  insulted,  it  is  not  proper  for  me  to  remain 
in  her  another  hour." 

"Insulted,  sir?"  exclaimed  the  young  commander, 
blushing  under  this  charge. 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  insulted,  sir  !  "  replied  Mr.  Hamblin, 
angril}^  "Did  you  not  leave  the  class?  That  w^as 
disobedience,  which,  under  the  circumstances,  per- 
hajDS  I  might  have  forgiven,  if  you  had  not  added  in- 
sult to  injury.  Not  contented  with  your  own  miscon- 
duct, you  immediately  ordered  all  hands  to  be  called, 
and  every  member  of  my  class  was  taken  away." 

"  As  to-day  is  Sunday,  sir,  I  will  not  attempt  to  ex- 
plain my  conduct.  I  am  very  sorry  that  any  difficulty 
has  occurred  ;  but  I  think  Mr.  Lowington  will  under- 
stand the  matter.  Your  boat  is  ready,  Mr.  Hamblin," 
added  Paul,  pointing  to  the  gangway,  where  the  third 
lieutenant  was  waiting  for  his  passenger. 

"  Do  I  understand  that  you  insist  upon  going  on 
board  of  the  ship  immediately  ?  "  demanded  the  pro- 
fessor. 

"  Yes,  sir.  It  is  my  duty  to  report  to  the  principal 
without  delay.  There  is  a  signal  at  the  peak  of  the 
ship  now,"  replied  Paul. 

"  Signal  for  the  captain  to  report  on  board  of  the 
ship,  sir,"  said  the  signal-officer,  touching  his  ca^D  to 
his  commander. 

Mr.  Hamblin  went  over  the  side  into  the  first  cut- 
ter, which  pulled  away  towards  the   ship.     The  gig 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    IIOLI.AND    AND    BELGIUM.      6^ 

immediately  took  her  place,  and  the  captain  stepped 
into  her.  The  cutter  reached  the  Young  America 
first,  and  the  angry  professor  ran  up  the  ladder  with 
unwonted  briskness.  The  principal  was  standing  on 
the  quarter,  waiting  to  see  the  captain  of  the  Jose- 
phine, for  he  was  anxious  to  learn  whether  she  had 
sustained  any  damage  or  lost  any  one  overboard  in 
the  fierce  storm.  He  knew^  that  nothing  but  the  most 
skilful  seamanship  could  have  prevented  the  decks  of 
the  schooner  from  bein^-  w'ashed  in  the  tremendous 
sea  that  prevailed  during  the  hurricane. 

To  Mr.  Lowington  every  moment  of  time  since  the 
two  vessels  of  the  squadron  parted  companj^  the  day 
before  had  been  burdened  with  the  most  intense  solici- 
tude for  the  fate  of  the  consort  and  her  crew.  The 
fact  that  she  had  been  dilatory  in  taking  in  sail,  when 
no  one  could  know  at  what  instant  the  squall  would 
break  upon  her,  had  indicated  a  degree  of  recklessness 
which  increased  his  anxiety.  Mr.  Fluxion  had  been 
ocnt  to  the  fore  cross-trees  w-ith  a  powerful  glass  early 
in  the  morning,  and  the  Josephine  had  been  discovered 
bv  the  ship  long  before  the  Young  America  was  seen 
by  the  pilot. 

During  the  night  the  ship  had  cruised  off  and  on  w 
search  of  her  consort,  but  the  Josephine  had  drifted  to 
the  southward,  and  had  sailed  in  that  direction,  after 
the  fury  of  the  tempest  had  wasted  itself,  in  looking 
for  the  wreck  of  the  galiot.  The  report  of  Mr.  Flux- 
ion on  the  cross-trees  that  she  was  entering  the  Hond, 
relieved  the  principal's  anxiety  in  part ;  but  he  was 
still  fearful  that  some  of  her  crew  had  been  washed 
overboard.     As  soon    as   the   anchor  was  let  go,   he 


6S  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

had  ordered  the  signal  for  Captain  Kendall  to  be 
hoisted. 

Mr.  Hamblin  was  the  first  person  from  the  Josephine 
who  presented  himself  to  the  principal.  There  was 
something  in  the  professor's  countenance  which  looked 
ominous,  and  Mr.  Lowington's  fears  seemed  to  be  con- 
firmed by  the  unusual  solemnity  of  the  learned  gen- 
tleman's expression.  Mr.  Lowington's  heart  rose  up 
into  his  throat;  for  independently  of  the  sorrow  which 
the  loss  of  one  or  more  of  the  Josephine's  crew  would 
cause  him,  he  realized  that  such  a  calamity  would  be 
the  death-blow  to  his  favorite  experiment.  The  entire 
charge  of  her  had  been  committed  to  a  boy  of  sixteen, 
and  he  blamed  himself  severely  because  he  had  not 
placed  an  experienced  officer  on  board  of  her,  who 
might  at  least  act  in  great  emergencies.  Though  Mr. 
Cleats  w^as  an  old  sailor,  he  was  not  a  navigator. 

The  principal  was  in  this  state  of  suffering,  border- 
ing upon  anguish,  when  the  irate  professor  of  Greek 
and  Latin  came  on  board.  Mr.  Lowington  tried  to 
think  that  nothing  had  happened,  but  it  was  impos- 
sible. If  any  one  had  been  lost,  the  Josephine's  flag 
woidd  be  at  half  mast,  or  some  other  signal  would  have 
been  made.  Mr.  Hamblin's  face  looked  like  death 
itself,  only  his  brow  was  contracted,  and  his  lips  were 
compressed  as  though  anger  and  sorrow  were  com- 
bined in  his  expression. 

"What  has  happened,  Mr.  LLamblin?"  demanded 
the  principal,  manifesting  more  emotion  than  any  one 
on  board  had  ever  before  observed  in  his  manner. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  say,  Mr.  Lowington,  that  an  un- 
pleasant event  has  occurred  on  board  of  the  Jose- 
phine," the  professor  began,  very  solemnly. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IX    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       69 

"  I  feared  it,"  gasped  jSIr.  Lowington.  "  Who 
was  it?" 

"  The  captain  —  " 

"•  Captain  Kendall !  "  groaned  jMr.  Lowington, 
striking  his  bewildered  head  with  both  hands. 
"  Good  Heaven  !   I  am  responsible  for  this  !  " 

"  What  is  the  matter,  Mr.  Lowington?  "  demanded 
the  astonished  professor. 

"  What  did  you  say  about  Captain  Kendall?"  asked 
the  principal,  catching  at  the  straw  which  the  learned 
gentleman's  question  seemed  to  hold  out  to  him. 

"  1  prefer  to  speak  to  you  alone  about  it.  ]Mr.  Low- 
ington," added  the  professor,  glancing  at  the  group 
of  officers  and  instructors  that  were  g^athering;  around 
him.  "  I  will  endeavor  to  control  my  emotions  in 
stating  this  unpleasant  business." 

Mr.  Lowington,  apparently  happv  to  have  even  a 
moment's  respite  from  the  grief  and  gloom  which 
must  follow  the  sad  intelligence  of  the  loss  of  Captain 
Kendall,  led  the  way  to  the  professors'  cabin. 

"  Now,  sir,  what  is  it?  Let  me  know  the  worst !  " 
exclaimed  the  principal,  dropping  upon  the  sofa  like 
a  man  whose  strength  had  all  been  taken  from  Iiim. 
"  I  have  been  dreading  it  for  many  long  and  weary 
hours," 

"Dreading  it?"  repeated  the  confused  professor. 
"Dreading  what,  sir?" 

"  That  the  Josephine  had  suffered  severely  in  the 
storm,"  replied  the  principal,  impatiently.  "  You 
have  come  to  tell  me  that  Captain  Kendall  was  lost 
overboard?"  And  Mr.  Lowino^ton  heaved  a  lonjj 
sigh. 


yo  DIKES   AND   DITCHES,    OR 

"  No,  sir,"  protested  Mr.  Hambliii. 

"  Didn't  you  say  that  a  very  unpleasant  affair  had 
happened  on  board?  "  demanded  the  principal, eagerly. 

"  I  did  ;  but  it  was  not  the  loss  of  the  captain." 

"Who  was  it?"  asked  Mr.  Lowington,  catching 
his  breath,  in  the  heaviness  of  his  anxiety. 

"  I  really  don't  understand  you,  sir,"  said  the  learned 
gentleman,  astonished  and  confounded  by  what  he  re- 
garded as  the  singular  conduct  of  the  principal. 

"  Has  any  one  been  lost  overboard  from  the  Jose- 
phine?" demanded  Mr.  Lowington,  in  a  loud  tone, 
for  he  was  impatient  under  the  shuffling  manner  of 
the  professor. 

"  No,  sir ;  no  one,  that  I  am  aware  of." 

"  That  you  are  aware  of!  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Lowing- 
ton, sternly. 

"  Of  course,  if  any  one  had  been  lost,  I  should  have 
heard  of  it,"  answered  Mr.  Hamblin,  who  did  not 
quite  like  the  tone  of  the  principal. 

"  Then  the  officers  and  crew  are  all  safe  —  are 
they?" 

"  They  are,  sir  —  all  safe." 

"  Thank  God  !  "  ejaculated  Mr.  Lowington,  heartily, 
an  awfully  heavy  load  removed  from  his  mind. 

"  I  have  come  on  board,  sir,  to  make  a  complaint 
against  the  captain  of  the  Josephine.  This  is  the  un- 
pleasant business  which  brings  me  here,"  added  the 
learned  gentleman,  decidedly. 

"  Indeed  !  " 

But  even  this,  disagreeable  as  it  was,  came  as  a  re- 
lief to  the  overcharged  heart  of  Paul's  best  friend,  who 
had  received  a  terrible  shock  from  tlie  confused  state- 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IX    HOLLAND    AND    liELGir.M.       7 1 

ment  of  the  professor.  Vet  it  was  very  strange  that 
any  one  should  have  a  comphiint  to  make  against 
Paul  Kendall,  who  had  always  been  noble  and  manly, 
gentle  and  conciliating. 

"  Yesterday,  just  before  the  storm  came  on,  Mr. 
Kendall  was  reciting  with  the  Greek  class,"  continued 
Mr.  Hamblin.  '•  Word  came  to  him  that  his  presence 
was  required  on  deck.  lie  asked  my  permission  to 
go  on  deck.  As  I  could  not  see  the  necessity  of  his 
leavino-  the  class  before  the  lesson  was  finished,  I  re- 
fused  to  give  him  permission." 

"  Did  he  leave  then  ?  " 

"  Not  then  ;  but  half  an  hour  later  another  message 
came  to  him,  and  he  left,  contrary  to  my  orders,  and 
contrary  to  my  protest,"  added  the  professor,  waxing 
indignant  as  he  recounted  his  wrongs. 

"  What  was  the  message  that  came  the  second 
time?"    asked  Mr.   Lowington,   mildly. 

"  I  do  not  remember  precisely  what  it  was  —  I  am 
not  versed  in  sea  terms  ;  but  I  do  remember  that  Mr. 
Kendall  left  the  class  contrary  to  my  express  order. 
Not  contented  with  this,  he  called  all  hands,  and 
broke  up  the  scliool,  when  there  was  no  need  of  it. 
Such  conduct  is  utterly  subversive  of  school  discipline, 
and  —  " 

"  Excuse  me,  Mr.  Hamblin,  but  as  to-day  is  Sunday, 
I  must  defer  hearing  any  more  of  your  complaint  until 
to-morrow,"  continued  ^Ir.  Lowington,  rising  from  his 
chair. 

"  I  desire  to  have  this  question  settled  before  I  re- 
sume my  position  in  the  Josephine,"  said  the  profess- 
or, cut  by  the  apparent  coolness  of  the  principal. 


^2  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OU 

"  I  will  hear  what  Captain  Kendall  has  to  say 
about  it." 

"  Sir,"  exclaimed  the  learned  gentleman,  "  am  I 
to  understand  that  you  are  not  satisfied  with  the  truth 
of  my  statement?" 

"  By  no  means.  I  wish  to  hear  from  Captain  Ken- 
dall his  excuse  for  leaving  the  class.  I  am  not  able  to 
determine  whether  it  was  satisfactory." 

"  I  have  already  determined  that  question  myself 
I  think  I  observed  to  you  that  there  was  not  a  suffi- 
cient excuse  for  his  leaving  the  class." 

"  I  will  defer  the  discussion  of  the  matter  till  to- 
morrow," replied  Mr.  Lowington. 

"  I  do  not  object  to  the  delay,  sir  ;  but  I  do  object 
to  having  any  of  the  statements  of  the  pupil  counter- 
balance those  I  have  made." 

"  Do  you  wish  me  to  condemn  him  without  a  hear- 
ing?" 

"  I  do  not  wish  you  to  condemn  him  at  all.  1 
simply  ask  to  be  sustained  in  the  discharge  of  my 
duty  as  a  teacher." 

"  I  will  hear  what  more  you  have  to  say  to-morrow, 
Mr.  Hamblin." 

"  Very  well,  sir ;  but  you  must  allow  me  to  remain 
on  board  of  the  ship  until  to-morrow,  for  I  cannot  return 
to  the  Josephine  till  this  unpleasant  matter  has  been 
adjusted." 

''  As  you  please,"  replied  the  principal,  as  he  has- 
tened on  deck,  where  a  cheer,  half  suppressed  in 
deference  to  the  day,  had  a  few  moments  before  been 
heard. 

As  Paul  came  down  from  the  rail  of  the  ship,  he 


VOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       73 

was  greeted  with  applause  ;  for,  without  knowing  what 
had  occurred  after  they  lost  sight  of  the  consort,  the 
students  in  the  ship  realized  that  Paul  had  taken  his 
vessel  safely  through  the  storm.  He  bowed  and  blushed 
at  this  demonstration,  and  hastened  to  meet  Mr.  Low- 
ington,  who  was  just  coming  up  from  his  interview 
with  the  professor.  He  had  purposely  delayed  his 
passage  to  the  ship,  in  order  to  aflbrd  Mr.  Hamblin 
time  to  make  his  charges.  It  was  plain  that  he  had 
done  so  now,  and  Paul  was  not  a  little  anxious  for  the 
result. 

"  Captain  Kendall,  I  am  very  glad  to  see  you,"  said 
Mr.  Lowington,  warmly,  as  he  extended  his  hand  to 
the  young  commander. 

^'  Thank  you,  sir  ;  I  am  just  as  glad  to  see  you,"  re- 
plied Paul,  taking  the  proffered  hand,  and  concluding 
that  the  professor  had  not  materially  prejudiced  the 
principal  against  him. 

''  I  have  been  very  anxious  about  you,  Captain  Ken- 
dall," added  Mr.  Lowington.  "  I  have  imagined  that 
all  sorts  of  terrible  things  had  happened  to  you  and 
the  Josephine.     Is  all  well  on  board?" 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  but  we  are  all  very  tired.  We  were  up 
all  night,  and  the  crew  had  to  work  very  hard." 

"All  night?" 

"  We  went  to  the  assistance  of  that  galiot,  sir.  We 
saved  four  persons,  and  brought  the  vessel  in,  as  you 
see  her  now.  She  was  knocked  down  in  the  squall, 
and  lost  two  men.     We  found  her  on  her  beam-ends." 

"  Indeed,  Captain  Kendall,  you  have  had  your  hands 
full,"  replied  Mr.  Lowington,  pleased  with  the  gallant 
conduct  of  his  young  friend. 
7 


>J^  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 

"  The  captain  of  the  gaHot,  —  he  has  a  name  as  long 
as  the  main  royal-mast  backstay,  and  I  can't  remem- 
ber it,  — the  captain  is  on  board  of  the  Josephine,  and 
wishes  to  see  you  very  much.  I  referred  the  whole 
matter  to  you,  sir." 

"  I  will  see  him  at  once." 

"  He  don't  speak  a  word  of  English  —  only  Dutch." 

"  Mr.  Fluxion  speaks  Dutch,  and  he  shall  go  with 
me.  I  will  return  with  you  in  your  boat,"  added  the 
principal. 

The  professor  of  mathematics  was  called,  and  they 
embarked  in  the  Josephine's  gig.  On  the  way  Paul 
briefly  detailed  the  events  which  had  occurred  since 
the  squall  came  on,  explaining  the  means  by  which 
the  shipwrecked  party  had  been  saved,  and  the  vessel 
righted.  He  generously  bestowed  great  praise  upon 
his  officers  and  crew  for  their  zealous  efforts  both  in 
working  the  Josephine,  and  in  saving  the  galiot  and 
her  crew. 

"  I  have  been  worried  about  you.  Captain  Kendall. 
You  did  not  seem  to  be  as  prudent  as  usual  when  the 
storm  was  threatening.  Ten  minutes  before  the  squall 
came  up  you  had  every  rag  of  canvas  set,  including 
your  fore  square-sail.  You  ought  to  have  reduced  sail 
half  an  hour  sooner,  especially  as  there  was  no  wind, 
and  not  a  sail  was  drawing.  You  should  have  taken 
your  precautions  sooner,  for  you  can't  tell  the  precise 
moment  when  a  hurricane  will  burst  upon  you.  All 
light  sails  and  all  extra  ones  should  be  taken  in  whei? 
there  is  a  possibility  of  a  squall." 

"  I  was  attending  the  Greek  class,"  replied  Paul ', 
but  he  resolved  to  make  no  allusion  to  the  difficulty 
between  Mr.  Hamblin  and  himself. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       75 

Paul's  reply  gave  the  principal  an  idea  of  the  occa- 
sion of  the  unpleasantness,  but  he  refrained  from  any 
fia-ther  remark  on  the  subject. 

''  The  Dutch  captain  is  much  troubled  about  the 
salvage  on  his  vessel,  for  the  Belgian  pilot  told  him 
the  Josephine  would  be  entitled  to  two  thirds  or  three 
fourtlis  of  the  property  saved,"  continued  Paul. 

'' Salvage  I  "  said  the  principal,  with  a  smile. 
"  Well,  I  suppose  you  are  entitled  to  it." 

"  I  hope  you  will  give  the  Dutchman  the  vessel  and 
cargo.  He  feels  very  badly.  He  has  lost  a  brother 
and  a  brother-in-law,  and  now  he  is  afraid  of  losing 
nearly  all  that  was  saved.  I  hope  you  will  not  take 
any  salvage.  I  am  sure  the  Josephines  would  all  vote 
to  have  you  make  no  claim  for  it." 

"  Excellent !  I  hope  they  will,"  replied  the  princi- 
pal, as  he  ascended  to  the  schooner's  deck,  followed 
by  Mr.  FJvixion  and  Paul. 


^6  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 


CHAPTER  V. 

CAPTAIN    SCHIMMELPENNINK. 

AT  the  request  of  the  principal,  Mr.  Fluxion  acted 
as  interpreter  in  the  conversation  with  the  Dutch 
skipper.  The  unfortunate  man  stated  his  case,  and 
bewailed  the  heavy  loss  to  which  he  had  been  subjected 
by  the  tempest. 

"  Call  all  hands,  if  you  please.  Captain  Kendall," 
said  Mr.  Lowington,  when  he  had  heard  the  statement 
as  translated  by  Mr.  Fluxion. 

Paul  gave  the  required  order,  and  in  a  few  moments 
the  crew  were  at  quarters.  The  principal  took  his 
place  on  the  main  hatch,  and  all  the  Josephines  waited 
with  interest  to  hear  what  he  had  to  say. 

''  Young  gentlemen,  since  we  parted  company  iu 
the  squall  yesterday,  I  have  suffered  a  great  deal  of 
anxiety  on  your  account.  The  ship  ran  off  before  the 
gale,  while  the  Josephine  lay  to.  If  you  had  not  sailed 
to  the  southward  after  the  tempest,  we  should  not  have 
lost  sight  of  you  for  more  than  a  few  hours.  I  acknowl- 
edge that  I  reproached  myself  severely  for  intrusting 
the  vessel  to  tlie  sole  care  of  students.  But  I  find  that 
she  has  been  as  well  handled  as  though  she  had  been 
under  command  of  an  old  and  experienced  man.  I 
wish  to  say  to  you  that  Captain  Kendall  has  acquitted 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       77 

himself  remarkably  well  in  the  emergency.  Though 
he  did  not  take  in  his  light  sails  quite  as  soon  as  he 
should,  everything  else  was  done  with  the  skill  and 
prudence  of  a  veteran." 

At  this  point  the  students  on  board,  who  knew  very 
well  why  Paul  had  not  taken  in  the  light  sails  sooner, 
looked  at  one  another  and  smiled  significantly.  The 
difficulty  between  the  professor  and  the  captain  had 
been  fiillv  discussed  amonsf  them,  and  it  hardlv  need 
be  said  that  Paul  was  fully  justified  by  his  shipmates. 

"  I  want  to  add,"  continued  the  principal,  '•  that  the 
conduct  of  Captain  Kendall  —  with  the  exception  I 
have  mentioned — is  fully  and  cordially  approved.  I 
must  say  that  his  behavior,  his  skill  and  energy,  seem 
fully  to  justify  the  experiment  undertaken  in  the  Jose- 
phine. Your  commander  has  made  a  full  report  of 
the  vessel,  and  it  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  say  that 
he  awards  the  highest  praise  to  his  officers  and  crew 
for  their  zeal  and  fidelity.  He  informs  me  that  officers 
and  seamen  labored  with  untiring  energy  to  rescue  the 
unfortunate  persons  on  board  of  the  galiot,  and  also 
to  save  the  vessel  itself.  These  efforts  have  been  en- 
tirely successful. 

"  It  is  at  all  times  the  duty  of  the  seaman  to  save 
life  and  property  on  the  high  seas.  Xo  one  knows 
how  soon  we  may  need  the  kind  offices  of  brother 
sailors  of  any  nation  ;  and  what  we  expect  to  receive 
from  others  we  should  at  all  times  be  prej^ared  to  ren- 
der to  them.  You  have  done  nobly.  I  congratulate 
you  upon  }our  success  ;  and  I  thank  you  for  the  zeal 
with  which  you  have  discharged  your  several  duties. 
Nothing  so  much   as  the  dependence  of  one  seaman 


*j8  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

upon  another,  in  the  hour  of  shipwreck  and  disaster 
unites  the  seamen  of  all  nations  in  one  fraternity. 
Young  gentlemen,  you  have  done  something  for  youi 
ship,  and  something  for  your  country  ;  for  every  true 
American  feels  proud  and  happy  when  he  learns  that 
an  American  vessel  has  saved  even  a  single  ship- 
wrecked mariner.  I  am  sure  your  friends  will  be 
proud  of  you  when  they  read  your  record  for  the  last 
twenty-four  hours. 

"According  to  maritnne  law,  young  gentlemen,  you 
are  cntitletl  to  salvage  upon  the  vessel  you  have  saved. 
Under  ordinary  circumstances,  you  would  be  justilied 
in  claiming  from  one  half  to  three  fourths  of  the  value 
of  this  vessel.  The  gahot,  I  am  informed,  was  not 
insured.  The  vahie  of  the  vessel  and  cargo  is  per- 
haps four  or  five  thousand  dollars.  I  have  no  doubt 
the  court  would  give  you  what  would  amount  to  two 
or  three  thousand  dollars,  at  least ;  for  without  assist- 
ance the  vessel  would  probably  have  been  a  total  loss. 

"  Captain  Schimmelpennink,  I  am  told,  is  the  sole 
owner  of  the  '  Wei  tevreeden.'  He  and  his  family  lived 
on  board  of  her.  It  was  their  only  home,  and  she 
was  their  only  worldly  possession.  At  an  expense 
of  a  few  hundred  dollars,  he  can  restore  her  to  her 
original  condition.  If  sold  in  her  present  state,  she 
would  not  bring  half  her  actual  value.  Deducting 
the  salvage  from  this  amount,  the  unfortunate  captain 
would  lose  at  least  three  fourths  of  his  property,  the 
accumulation  of  his  lifetime." 

"We'll  no  rob  the  poor  mon,"  interposed  McLcish, 
the  Scotch  boy,  wdio  was  now  on  his  good  behavior. 

''  It  will  be  no  robbery,  McLeish,     You  would  take 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       IC) 

hut   your  just    dues,"    replied    the  principal,   with    a 
smile. 

"  We'll  no  tak  it,"  added  McLeish. 

"  No,  sir  !  "  "  No,  sir  !  "  "  No,  sir  !  "  responded 
the  students  in  every  direction. 

"  Not  a  dollar  of  it,  sir  !  "   said  Paul,  warmly. 

"  Thank  30U,  yoiuig  gentlemen,"  continued  Mr. 
Lowington,  whose  face  indicated  the  pleasure  he  felt. 
"  You  have  voluntarily  suggested  what  I  was  about  to 
propose  to  you.  To-day  is  Sunday,  and  your  conduct 
is  worthy  of  the  day.  I  should  not  have  mentioned 
the  matter  until  to-morrow,  if  I  had  not  desired  to  re- 
lieve the  unfortunate  captain  from  his  anxiety  and  sus- 
pense. Your  conduct  will  gladden  his  heart.  We 
will  take  a  vote  on  this  question,  that  there  may  be  no 
mistake  in  regard  to  your  intentions.  Those  in  favor 
of  abandoning  the  claim  for  salvage  will  signify  it  by 
raising  the  right  hand." 

Every  hand  v/as  raised,  and  most  of  the  boys  added 
an  emphatic  *'  Ay  !  "  to  the  hand  vote. 

"  All  up  I  "  shouted  the  students,  looking  around 
them  to  find  any  one  who  was  behind  the  others  in 
this  benevolent  deed. 

"  Every  one,"  replied  Mr.  Lowington,  smiling. 
"  Mr.  Fluxion,  I  will  thank  you  to  communicate  to 
the  master  of  the  galiot  the  action  of  the  ship's  com- 
pany." 

The  Dutchman  stood  watching  the  proceedings  of 
the  party  with  a  look  of  sad  bewilderment.  Ilis  wife 
and  daughter  were  near  him,  as  sad  and  confused  as 
himself.  The  boys  looked  at  him  with  interest  as  the 
professor  of  mathematics  explained  to  him  what  had 


8o  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

taken  place.  The  expression  which  lighted  up  his 
face,  as  he  comprehended  the  action  of  the  students, 
was  an  ample  reward  for  their  generous  conduct. 

"  Tell  him  he  may  take  possession  of  his  vessel  as 
soon  as  he  pleases,"  added  the  principal. 

Mr.  Fluxion  communicated  this  permission  to  the 
skipper;  and  when  he  heard  it  he  cast  a  longing 
glance  at  the  "  Wei  tevreeden,"  which  he  seemed  to 
regard  in  the  same  lij^ht  as  his  wife  and  daughter. 

"How  much  will  it  cost  to  repair  the  galiot?" 
asked  one  of  the  students,  stepping  forward  from  a 
group  which  had  been  whispering  together  for  a  mo- 
ment very  earnestly. 

"  I  do  not  know  the  price  of  materials  in  Holland," 
replied  Mr.  Lowington.  "  Perhaps  the  captain  and 
the  pilot  may  be  able  to  give  you  some  information  on 
this  subject." 

INIr.  Fluxion,  the  pilot,  and  the  master  of  the  galiot 
consulted  together  for  some  time.  The  jib  and  fore- 
sail, and  a  portion  of  the  standing  and  running  rigging, 
had  been  saved,  and  the  Belgian  and  the  Dutchman 
made  a  computation  of  the  cost  of  labor  and  material. 

"  About  twelve  hundred  guilders,"  said  Mr.  Low- 
ington, after  Mr.  Fluxion  had  reported  the  result  of 
the  conference. 

"How  much  is  that,  sir?"  asked  one  of  the  boys, 
blankly. 

"  One  hundred  pounds,  English,"  said  Paul,  who 
liad  already  studied  up  Dutch  currency.  "  About  five 
hundred  dollars." 

"  I  move  you,  sir,  that  a  subscription  paper  be 
opened  to  raise  the  money  to  repair  the  galiot,"  said 
Lvnch. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IW    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       Si 

"  Second  the  motion,"  added  Groesbeck. 

"  Yoimg  gentlemen,  I  think  you  have  done  all  that 
could  be  expected  of  you,"  said  Mr.  Lovvington.  "  T 
do  not  mean  to  represent  to  you  that  Captain  vSchim- 
melpennink  is  an  object  of  charity,  though  I  am  in- 
formed that  he  has  not  the  means  of  paying  for  these 
repairs.  But,  since  30U  desire  it,  I  will  put  the  matter 
to  vote." 

The  motion  was  carried  unanimously,  as  the  one 
remitting  the  claim  for  salvage  had  been.  The  prin- 
cipal suggested  that  it  was  proper  to  appoint  a  com- 
mittee to  attend  to  the  subscriptions  ;  and  Terrill,  Pel- 
ham,  and  Lynch  were  appointed  to  perform  this 
duty.  Nothing  was  said  to  the  skipper  of  the  galiot 
about  this  proposition  ;  and  Mr.  Lowington  having 
warmly  commended  the  students  for  their  generous 
sympathy  with  the  unfortunate  man,  the  crew  were 
dismissed. 

A  boat  was  sent  to  the  "  Wei  tevreeden"  with  the 
captain  and  his  J^arty.  The  subscription  paper  was 
immediately  opened.  Terrill  took  the  paper  to  Mr. 
Lowington  first,  who  headed  it  with  sixty  guilders. 
The  principal  and  the  students  seemed  to  make  their 
financial  calculations  in  English  money,  on  the  basis 
of  twelve  guilders  to  the  pound.  Mr.  Fluxion  put 
down  twenty-four  guilders,  and  the  students  twelve 
guilders  each  ;  for  no  one  was  willing  to  be  behind 
the  others. 

Mr.  Lowington  returned  to  the  ship  ;  and  when  din* 
ner  was  over,  most  of  the  Josephines  turned  in,  for 
there  was  a  fearful  gaping  on  board  as  soon  as  the 
excitement   had    subsided.      Hardly   any  of  the   crew 


82  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

had  closed  their  eyes  during  the  preceding  night,  and 
all  of  them  were  very  tired. 

At  five  o'clock,  the  white  flag  containing  a  blue 
cross,  which  is  the  signal  for  divine  service,  aj^pcared 
on  the  Young  America.  The  service  had  been  post- 
poned, to  enable  the  Josephines  to  obtain  a  little  need- 
ed rest :  it  was  never  dispensed  with  except  at  sea,  in 
very  heavy  weather.  Though  the  religious  exercises 
were  made  unusually  impressive  by  Mr.  Agneau,  after 
the  storm  and  the  wreck,  it  must  be  confessed  that 
some  of  the  consort's  company  went  to  sleep  during 
the  hour  ;  but  they  were  forgiven,  even  by  the  chap- 
lain, when  their  zealous  labors  to  save  life  and  property 
were  considered. 

For  some  reason  of  his  own,  Mr.  Lowington  invited 
the  Dutch  skipper  and  his  family  to  attend  the  service, 
and  a  boat  was  sent  for  the  party.  They  came  on 
board,  and  were  regarded  with  deep  interest  by  the 
crew,  though  doubtless  they  were  not  much  edified  by 
the  exercises,  as  they  knew  not  a  word  of  English. 

"  Captain  Kendall,"  said  the  first  lieutenant  of  the 
schooner,  when  they  returned  to  their  cabin,  "I  think 
I  have  money  enough  to  build  a  new  galiot  for  Cap- 
tain Schumblefungus,  or  whatever  his  name  is.  I 
don't  wonder  that  a  man  with  such  a  name  as  that 
should  be  cast  away,  especially  if  the  mate  had  to 
speak  it  before  he  let  go  the  halyards." 

"  How  much  have  you?"  asked  Paul. 

"  I  don't  know,"  replied  Terrill,  producing  a  whole 
bundle  of  money  orders,  with  which  the  students  had 
paid  their  subscriptions.  "  Mr.  Lowington  made  a 
speech  to  the  Young  Americans  <after  he  retin*ned  on 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       S3 

board.  He  told  them  what  we  had  done,  and  what 
we  intended  to  do.  The  fellows  in  the  ship  wanted 
to  have  a  finger  in  the  pie  ;  and  I  believe  every  one  of 
them  has  put  down  his  twelve  guilders." 

"  I  am  very  glad  to  hear  that ;  for  I  pitied  the  Dutch 
captain  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart,"  added  Paul. 

"  All  the  professors  gave  twelve  guilders,  except  old 
Hamblin  —  " 

"  Professor  Hamblin,"  interposed  Paul,  gently  rebuk- 
ing his  friend  for  using  tliat  disrespectful  appellative. 

"  Professor  Hamblin  ;  but  I  have  no  respect  for  him, 
and  I  can't  always  help  speaking  what  I  think.  He 
is  a  solemn  old  lunatic,  as  grouty  as  a  crab  that  has 
got  aground." 

"  We  will  not  speak  of  him,"  said  Paul,  mildly. 

"  Well,  they  all  subscribed  except  him  ;  and  I'm 
sure  I've  got  more  than  twelve  hundred  guilders. 
Why,  even  the  cooks  and  stewards  gave  something." 

"  I'm  orlad  vou  have  been  so  fortunate." 

"  Captain  Spunkenfungle's  eyes  will  stick  out  a  foot 
or  two  when  he  hears  what  we  have  done  for  him." 

"  And  I'm  sure  we  shall  be  as  happy  as  he  ;  for  such 
gifts,  you  know,  are  twice  blessed." 

The  sums  on  the  subscription  papers  were  added  up 
by  Terr  ill  and  Pel  ham. 

^'  Sixteen  hundred  and  fifty-four  guilders ! "  ex- 
claimed the  former,  when  the  result  had  been  reached. 

"  Four  hundred  and  fifty-four  guilders  more  than 
the  sum  required,"  added  Paul,  delighted  by  the  intel- 
ligence. 

"  vShall  we  sfive  it  all  to  the  skipper?"  asked  Pel- 
ham. 


S4  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 

"  I  don't  know .  We  will  leave  that  to  Mr.  Lowing- 
ton,"  replied  Paul. 

"  I  don't  think  we  ought  to  give  him  any  more  than 
enough  to  make  up  his  loss.  That  would  tempt  him 
to  wreck  his  galiot  again,  if  there  was  an  American 
flag  in  sight,"  said  Terrill. 

"  I  see  no  reason  why  he  should  be  left  any  better 
off  than  before  the  disaster,"  continued  the  captain. 
"  We  can  keep  the  money  as  a  charity  fund  ;  and  I 
have  no  doubt  we  shall  soon  find  a  chance  to  make 
good  use  of  it." 

The  embarrassment  of  having  a  surplus  was  better 
than  that  of  a  deficiency  would  have  been,  and  the 
sleepy  officers  of  the  Josephine  were  not  likely  to  be 
kept  awake  by  it.  All  hands  turned  in  at  an  earlier 
hour  than  usual.  The  anchor  watch  were  as  sleepy 
as  the  others ;  but  the  discipline  of  the  vessel  was 
rigidly  adhered  to,  for  the  principal  did  not  believe  in 
neglecting  any  necessary  precaution  simply  because 
the  crew  were  tired.  As  seamen,  the  students  were 
taught  to  realize  that  fatigue  and  want  of  sleep  on 
shipboard  would  not, justify  any  disregard  of  their 
regular  routine  duty. 

In  the  morning  everything  went  on  as  usual.  It 
had  not  been  the  intention  of  Mr.  Lowington  to  put 
into  Flushing,  and  no  one  was  allowed  to  go  on  shore. 
The  wind  was  fortunately  fresh  from  the  westward  ; 
the  pilots  were  still  on  board  ;  and  the  signal  for  sail- 
ing was  hoisted  on  board  of  the  Young  America. 
Just  before  the  squadron  weighed  anchor,  Mr.  Fluxion 
went  on  board  of  the  galiot,  and  informed  the  skipper 
that  all  the  expenses  of  the  repairs  of  his  vessel  would 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       S5 

be  paid  by  the  students  of  tlie  institution.  The  pro- 
fessor reported  that  the  poor  man  was  beside  hin?self 
with  joy  when  he  received  this  intelHgence.  He  ex- 
pressed his  gratitude  in  extravagant  terms,  which  had 
no  Enghsh  equivalents.  Mr.  Fhixion  gave  him  eighty 
pounds  in  gold,  and  promised  to  see  him  again  before 
the  repairs  were  completed. 

Orders  to  weigh  anchor  were  given,  and  the  two 
vessels  stood  out  of  the  port  of  Flushing  into  the  broad 
river.  At  Paul's  invitation.  Dr.  Winstock  came  on 
board  for  the  passage  up  the  river.  Mr.  Hamblin  still 
remained  a  guest  of  the  ship,  and  the  surgeon  volun- 
teered to  take  his  place,  though  he  acknowledged  that 
his  Greek  roots  were  little  better  than  decayed  stumps 
in  his  memory. 

There  is  nothing  picturesque  on  the  Scheldt ;  and 
it  was  no  great  hardship  for  the  students  to  be  com- 
pelled to  attend  to  their  lessons  in  the  steerage  half 
Khe  time  during  the  trip.  The  country  is  very  low  — 
some  of  it  below  the  level  of  the  sea  ;  and  there  was 
little  to  be  seen  on  shore,  though  the  students  on  deck 
found  enough  to  interest  them. 

Mr.  Hamblin  was  the  only  unhappy  person  in  the 
squadron,  even  the  Knights  of  the  Red  Cross  finding 
enough  in  this  new  and  strange  land  to  occupy  their 
time  without  plotting  mischief.  The  learned  gentle- 
man did  not  like  the  way  in  which  the  principal  ai> 
peared  to  be  "  sustaining"  him.  Mr.  Lowington  had 
called  the  crew  together,  and  told  them  what  the  Jose- 
phines had  done,  praising  them  in  what  seemed  to  the 
professor  to  be  the  most  extravagant  language.  He 
did  not  like  it :  it  was  hardly  less  than  an  insult  to 
8 


86  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

commend  the  student  against  whom  he  had  preferred 
charges  of  disobedience  and  insubordination. 

He  was  vexed  that  no  notice  was  taken  of  his  com* 
phiints  —  that  the  matter  had  been  deferred  a  single 
hour.  In  his  opinion,  Captain  Kendall  should  have 
been  promptly  suspended.  The  moral  effect  of  such 
a  course  would  have  been  grand.  Mr.  Hamblin  had 
spoken  ;  and  he  felt  that  he  had  spoken.  If  he  was 
not  sustained,  he  could  not  return  to  the  Josephine, 
He  had  spoken  ;  and  it  was  the  principal's  place  to 
speak  next. 

Mr.  Lowington  did  not  speak.  He  was  busy  all  the 
morning  ;  and  when  the  vessels  sailed,  not  a  word  had 
been  said  in  allusion  to  the  topic  which,  in  Mr.  Ham- 
blin's  estimation,  overshadowed  all  others.  If  the 
principal  did  not  think  of  it  all  the  time,  he  ought  to 
do  so  ;  for  the  academic  branch  of  the  institution  would 
be  a  failure  if  discijDline  was  not  enforced.  The  ship 
stood  on  her  way  before  the  fresh  westerly  breeze,  and 
still  Mr.  Lowington  did  not  mention  the  matter.  The 
professor  waited  till  he  felt  he  was  utterly  ignored,  and 
was  sacrificing  his  dignity  every  moment  that  he  per- 
mitted the  question  to  remain  unsettled. 

"  Mr.  Lowington,"  said  he  at  last,  with  a  mighty 
effort,  —  for  it  was  the  principal's  duty  to  speak  first,  — 
"  I  made  a  complaint  to  you  yesterday.  Thus  far  no 
notice  whatever  seems  to  have  been  taken  of  it." 

"  Perhaps  the  longer  we  wait  the  easier  it  will 
be  to  settle  the  question,"  replied  Mr.  Lowington, 
pleasantly,  though  he  dreaded  the  discussion  that  must 
ensue. 

"  If  I  am  not  to  be  sustained  in  the  discharge  of  my 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       87 

duties,  It  is  useless  for  me  to  attempt  to  perform  them 
to  your  satisfaction  or  my  own." 

"You  shall  be  sustained  in  the  discharge  of  your 
duties,  Mr.  Hamblin.  But  we  will  discuss  this  matter 
in  the  cabin,  if  you  plpase,"  added  the  principal,  as  he 
led  the  way  below. 

*' Unless  an  instructor  is  sustained,  of  course  he  can 
do  nothing,"  said  the  professor,  as  he  seated  himself 
in  the  cabin. 

"  Certainly  not.  I  will  hear  your  complaint  now, 
Mr.  Hamblin,"  replied  the  principal. 

The  learned  gentleman  stated  his  grievance  in  about 
the  same  terms  as  on  the  day  before. 

"  You  say  that  a  message  was  sent  down  to  the  cap- 
tain. Do  you  know  what  that  message  was?"  asked 
the  principal. 

"  I  do  not  remember  it  precisely.  It  was  something 
about  a  squall." 

"  Very  likely  it  was,"  answered  Mr.  Lowlngton, 
dryly.  "  There  was  a  squall  coming  up  at  the  time  — 
was  there  not?" 

"  I  knew  there  was  a  shower  coming  up." 

"  You  declined  to  let  him  go  on  deck?  " 

"  I  did,  sir.  The  recitation  in  Greek  was  not  half 
finished,"  replied  the  professor,  who  deemed  this  a 
sufficient  reason  for  declining. 

"  Captain  Kendall  did  not  go  on  deck  when  the  first 
message  was  sent  down?" 

"  No,  sir ;  we  continued  the  recitation  for  half  an 
hour  longer  without  interruption.  Then  the  messen- 
ger came  again.  I  told  Mr.  Kendall  not  to  leave  the 
class ;  but,  in  direct  opposition  to  my  order,  he  went 


SS  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

on  deck.  Not  satisfied  with  this,  though  he  knew  that 
half  the  students  were  engaged  in  the  recitations,  he 
ordered  all  hands  to  be  called.  Of  course  the  students 
were  glad  enough  to  get  away  from  their  lessons ;  and 
all  of  them  stampeded  from  the  steerage,  in  spite  of 
my  protest,  and  without  even  a  word  of  apology." 

"  Did  they?"  added  Mr.  Lowington,  with  difficulty 
avoiding  the  disrespect  of  laughing  in  the  face  of  the 
learned  gentleman. 

"  They  did  ;  and  it  must  be  as  clear  to  you  as  it  is 
to  me,  that  such  conduct  is  utterly  subversive  of  any- 
thing like  good  discipline." 

"  May  I  ask  what  punishment  you  propose  as  suita- 
ble for  such  an  offence  as  that  of  Captain  Kendall?" 

"  I  am  perfectly  willing  to  leave  that  matter  to  you, 
sir  ;  but  I  should  think  that  simjole  suspension  from 
his  office  would  be  sufficient,  considering  the  position 
of  Mr.  Kendall." 

"  Mr.  Hamblin,  it  is  your  misfortune,  not  your  fault, 
that  you  were  brought  up  on  shore  instead  of  at  sea," 
added  the  principal.  "  You  have  made  a  very  great 
mistake,  sir." 

"  I,  sir  !  "  exclaimed  the  learned  gentleman,  spring- 
ing up  from  his  seat  as  though  such  an  event  as  that 
indicated  by  Mr.  Lowington  had  never  occurred  in 
his  life. 

"  Captain  Kendall  also  made  a  mistake,"  continued 
the  principal. 

"  He  did  indeed,  sir.  It  is  always  a  very  great  mis- 
take to  disobey  one's  teacher." 

"  I  do  not  mean  that." 

"  May  I  ask  what  3^ou  do  mean,  sir?  " 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND   AND    BELGIUM.       89 

"  His  mistake  was  in  not  going  on  deck  when  the 
messenger  sent  to  him  by  the  officer  of  the  deck  re- 
ported that  a  squall  was  coming  up." 

"  But  I  refused  the  permission,"  said  the  professor, 

warmly. 

"  Then  he  should  have  gone  without  your  permis- 
sion," added  Mr.  Lowington,  decidedly. 

'•x\m  I  to  understand,  sir,  that  you  counsel  disobe- 
dience among  the  boys  on  the  Josephine?  " 

"  No,  sir  ;  I  counsel  obedience  to  die  laws  of  God 
and  man,  and  to  the  orders  of  one's  superior.  Mr. 
Hamblin,  is  it  possible  that  you  could  not  understand 
the  circumstances  of  that  occasion?"  continued  the 
principal.  '*  A  squall  was  coming  up,  and  you  desired 
to  detain  the  captain  of  your  vessel  in  the  steerage  !  " 

"  But  half  the  crew  were  on  deck.  I  am  told  that 
Mr.  Terrill  is  a  competent  seaman.  He  knew  enough 
to  take  down  the  sails,  if  necessary." 

"  Such  a  course  would  have  been  without  a  prece- 
dent, and  in  violation  of  one  of  the  rules  of  the  ship." 
"  Did  you  not  tell  me  that  all  the  students,  including 
the  captain,  —  you  mentioned  him  especially,  —  were 
subject  to  the  orders  of  the  professors  in  school  hours?  " 
"  I  certainly  did  ;  but  if  I  had  supposed  that  there 
was  an  instructor  in  either  vessel  so  utterly  wanting 
in  discretion,  I  should  have  qualified  the  statement. 
Captain  Kendall  is  in  command  of  the  Josephine.  He 
is  responsible  for  the  safety  of  the  vessel  and  for  the 
lives  of  those  on  board." 

"  He   might  have  sent  up  word   to   take  down  the 
sails,"  growled  Mr.  Hamblin,  disgusted  beyond  meas- 
ure at  the  decision  of  the  principal. 
8* 


90  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

"  Did  any  one  ever  hear  of  a  captain  working  his 
vessel  while  in  the  steerage?"  retorted  Mr,  Lowington, 
impatiently,  as  he  took  a  pen  and  wrote  a  few  lines  on 
a  sheet  of  paper.  "  Was  Captain  Kendall  respectful 
to  you?" 

''  No,  sir." 

"  What  did  he  say  that  was  disrespectful?" 

"  Disobedience  i§  always  disrespectful.  He  used  no 
disrespectful  words." 

"  I  did  not  suppose  he  did.  In  a  word,  if  Captain 
Kendall  had  gone  on  deck  when  the  first  messenger 
went  to  him,  I  should  have  justified  and  sustained  him. 
I  will  go  a  step  farther :  he  ought  to  have  done  so." 

"  Then  I  am  to  understand  that  I  am  a  mere  cipher 
on  board  of  the  Josephine,"  demanded  Mr.  Hamblin. 

"  You  are  to  understand,  sir,  that  the  first  duty  of 
the  captain  of  a  ship  is  to  his  vessel  and  to  those  on 
board  of  her.  Why,  sir,  I  thought  the  young  gentle- 
man was  insane,  and  I  was  intensely  anxious,  when  I 
saw  his  vessel  with  all  her  light  sails  on  while  a  squall, 
so  clearly  indicated  as  that  of  Saturday,  was  impend- 
ing. I  blamed  him  very  much.  The  squall  was  as 
likely  to  come  half  an  hour  sooner  as  when  it  did 
come.  If  it  had  struck  her  with  all  sail  set,  it  would 
have  taken  the  masts  out  of  her —  perhaps  foundered 
her.  If  several  of  the  students  had  been  lost,  what 
satisfaction  would  it  be  to  me  or  their  friends  to  know 
that  the  disaster  occurred  because  the  professor  of 
Greek  refused  to  let  the  captain  go  on  deck  !  " 

"  Perhaps  I  was  wrong,  sir." 

"  Perhaps  you  were  !     If  you  do  not  know  that  you 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       9I 

were,  you  are  not  fit  for  the  position  to  which  I  as- 
signed  you." 

"  I  see  that  you  fully  sustain  Mr.  Kendall,"  groaned 
the  professor. 

"  I  only  blame  him  because  he  did  not  disobey  you 
the  first  time  instead  of  the  second." 

"  Was  it  necessary  for  him  to  call  all  hands?  "  de- 
manded Mr.  Hamblin,  triumphantly. 

/'It  was,  emphatically  necessary  !  If  he  had  gone 
on  deck  when  the  first  message  reached  him,  it  might 
not  have  been  necessary,  though  I  should  have  sus- 
tained him  in  doing  so  ;  for  the  safest  side  is  always 
the  best  side.  May  I  ask  you  to  read  this  order?" 
added  the  principal,  as  he  handed  the  sheet  upon  which 
he  had  written  to  the  learned  professor. 

Mr.  Hamblin  read  the  order  aloud. 

Captain  Kendall  is  hereby  authorized  and  directed 
to  leave  any  class  in  which  he  may  be  engaged,  when- 
ever, in  his  own  judgment,  the  management  of  his  ves- 
sel requires  him  to  do  so.  The  instructors  in  the  con- 
sort are  requested  to  respect  this  order. 

R.    LOWINGTON. 

Professor  Hamblin  dropped  the  paper,  took  ofi'  his 
spectacles,  looked  on  the  floor  a  moment,  and  seemed 
to  feel  that  the  nautical  academy  was  not  the  paradise 
of  schoolmasters. 

"  Mr.  Lowington,  I  feel  obliged  to  tender  my  resigna- 
tion of  the  position  I  occupy,"  said  the  learned  gentle- 
man, haughtily. 


93 


DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 


"  Vp»7  well,  sir.  Though  the  want  of  an  instructor 
in  your  department  will  be  a  serious  inconvenience  to 
me,  I  shall  accept  your  resignation  if  you  are  not  will- 
ing to  respect  this  order,"  replied  the  princii^al. 

That  ended  the  •c^^^/^'-^rce,  and  Paul  was  sustained. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM         9^ 


CHAPTER  VI. 

PROFESSOR    HAMBLIN    CHANGES    HIS    MIND. 

PROFESSOR  HAMBLIN  went  on  deck,  walked 
up  and  down,  and  made  liimself  as  miserable  as 
possible.  He  was  the  senior  instructor  of  the  Jose- 
phine, and  was  the  superintendent  of  her  academic 
department.  He  had  been  a  schoolmaster  or  a  pro- 
fessor for  forty  years,  and  was  fulh'  steeped  in  the 
dogmatism  of  the  pedagogue.  He  was  disposed  to 
be  overbearing  and  tyrannical,  though  perhaps  his 
profession,  rather  than  his  nature,  had  implanted 
this  tendency  in  his  character.  Certainly  the  almost 
absolute  sway  of  the  schoolmaster  encourages  such 
an  unfortunate  development  of  the  lower  faculties  of 
human  nature. 

It  is  necessary  that  the  parent  or  the  teacher  should 
have  this  absolute  sway.  Practically,  his  will  is  law, 
and  the  child  has  no  alternative  but  to  rebel  or  obey. 
The  limit  to  his  authority  is  only  placed  on  the  line 
where  tyranny  ends  and  actual  abuse  begins.  It  is 
true  that  public  opinion  has  its  influence  upon  the 
teacher  or  parent ;  but  there  is  room  for  much  petty 
oppression  before  the  limit  of  endurance  is  reached. 
A  man  may  be  an  efficient  teacher,  and  produce 
splendid  intellectual  results,  while  he  is  a  tyrant  and 


94  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

an  oppressor  ;  indeed,  his  tyranny  and  oppression  may 
be  the  very  means  by  which  his  success  is  accom- 
plished. 

The  rights  of  the  pupil  are  not  recognized  by  such 
men.  The  scholar  is  regarded  as  a  machine,  rather 
than  an  immortal  soul.  Though  Mr.  Hamblin  was 
a  very  pious  man,  in  his  own  way,  and  was  very 
careful  in  his  observance  of  all  the  forms  of  law 
and  tradition,  he  was  a  tyrant  at  heart.  He  ruled 
with  an  iron  will,  and  willingly  sutTcred  no  one  in 
the  school-room  to  hold  an  opinion  diflerent  from 
his  own.  He  was  not  popular  in  the  Josephine  ;  he 
had  never  been  a  popular  teacher  anywhere,  though 
he  had  been  a  successful  one,  so  far  as  intellectual  re- 
sults were  concerned.  His  success  seemed  to  justify 
him,  and  certainly  it  added  to  the  strength  of  his 
tyrannical  will. 

The  good  schoolmaster  recognizes  and  respects  the 
rights  of  the  scholar.  While  he  is  an  unflinching 
disciplinarian,  expecting  an  unquestioning  obedience, 
he  does  not  believe  in  his  own  infallibility.  He  is 
kind  and  considerate,  and  regards  his  pupil  as  an 
embryo  man,  "  endowed  with  certain  inalienable 
rights,"  which  none  may  trample  upon  with  impu- 
nity. He  is  both  just  and  merciful,  his  heart  being 
filled  with  love  to  God  and  love  to  man. 

Such  was  not  Mr.  Hamblin.  The  greatest  sin  of 
a  student  was  to  have  a  will  of  his  own.  He  had  not 
the  power  or  the  inclination  to  harmonize  that  will 
with  the  requirements  of  duty,  and  he  broke  it  down, 
not  by  coarse  abuse,  but  by  making  the  pupil  so  un- 
comfortable  that  a  total  submission  was  better  than 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       95 

a  ('casonable  iiulependence.  In  mild-tempered  boys, 
like  Paid  Kendall,  the  task  was  an  easy  one,  when  no 
principle  was  at  stake. 

The  professor  walked  up  and  down  the  deck,  brood- 
ing: over  his  sfrievances.  He  coidd  not  alTord  to 
abandon  his  situation  on  the  one  hand,  and  it  seemed 
impossible  to  acknowledge  that  he  was  wholly  wrong 
on  the  other  hand.  \\'hen  he  had  thoroughly  cooled 
off,  he  was  willing  to  own  that  it  was  necessary  for 
the  captain  to  go  on  deck,  and  tliat  if  he  had  compre- 
hended the  situation  he  should  have  given  him  per- 
mission to  do  so.  But  he  knew  nothing  about  the 
management  of  a  vessel.  How  shoidd  a  professor 
of  Greek  and  Latin  be  expected  to  understand  a  mat- 
ter which  even  the  most  ignorant  could  comprehend, 
and  of  which  even  a  boy  of  sixteen  had  made  himself 
master?  Boys  could  play  base-ball,  but  he  did  not 
know  how  ;  and  it  seemed  just  as  much  beneath  his 
dignity  to  be  familiar  with  practical  navigation. 

He  was  sorry  now  that  he  had  not  given  Captain 
Kendall  permission  to  go  on  deck  ;  for  it  was  impossi- 
ble to  refute  the  arguments  of  the  principal ;  but  at 
the  same  time  he  had  not  overstepped  the  duties  of 
his  office.  He  had  been  informed  that  all  the  students, 
even  to  the  captain,  were  subject  to  his  will  and  pleas- 
ure during  school  hours,  and  therefore  he  had  a  per- 
fect right  to  detain  the  captain.  It  was  not  his  fault 
that  a  blunder  had  been  made  ;  he  had  not  made  it. 

The  order  which  Mr.  LowinsTton  had  shown  him 
would  remedy  the  difficulty  in  future,  and  prevent 
its  repetition  ;  but  if  that  order  was  promulgated, 
it  would  assure  the  pupils  that  Captain  Kendall  had 


96  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

been  fully  sustained,  and  that  the  professor  had  not 
been  sustained.  Mr.  Hamblin  shuddered  at  the 
thought ;  for  justifying  a  student  at  the  expense  of 
the  instructor  was  an  enormity  which  he  could  not 
countenance.  The  captain's  will  would  remain  un- 
broken, and  the  professor  would  occupy  a  secondary 
position  on  board  of  the  Josephine. 

The  learned  gentleman  walked  the  deck  hour  after 
hour,  endeavoring  to  devise  a  plan  by  which  he  could 
return  to  his  position  w^ithout  the  sacrifice  of  any  por- 
tion of  his  dignity.  Mr.  Lowington,  in  saying  that 
the  professor's  resignation  would  be  a  serious  incon- 
venience to  him,  had  left  the  door  open  for  him  to 
Tevise  his  final  action.  The  squadron  was  eventually 
to  visit  Greece  and  other  classic  lands,  and  he  was 
very  anxious  to  continue  his  travels,  not  only  without 
expense  to  himself,  but  while  in  the  receipt  of  a  hand- 
some salary.  Such  an  opportunity  to  see  Europe 
could  never  again  be  presented  to  him,  and  he  was 
not  willing  to  sacrifice  it. 

Professor  Hamblin  was  becoming  more  reasonable ; 
but  there  was  the  untamed  will  of  Captain  Kendall, 
an  unconquered  fortress,  in  his  path.  Perhaps  Mr. 
Lowington,  now  that  the  excitement  of  the  first  inter- 
view had  subsided,  might  help  him  out  of  the  embar- 
rassing dilemma,  though  his  decided  m.anner  w'as  not 
very  encouraging.  The  professor  determined  to  have 
Another  interview,  and  as  soon  as  he  saw  the  principal 
alone  he  opened  the  subject  again. 

"  What  you  said  about  my  resignation,  Mr.  Lowing- 
ton, gives  me  some  uneasiness.  It  is  not  my  wish  to 
subject  you  to  any   inconvenience'  by  leaving  you,  in 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       97 

a  foreign  land,  where  much  delay  must  necessarily 
ensue  before  you  can  obtain  a  suitable  person  to  fill 
my  jDlace,"  said  he,  in  a  tone  of  embarrassment. 

"  It  would  disturb  my  plans  very  much  ;  but  I  can- 
not endanger  the  vessel  and  the  lives  of  those  on  board 
of  her.  The  jDOsition  of  Captain  Kendall  is  anomalous, 
you  w^ill  perceive." 

"  I  am  quite  willing  now  to  say  that  if  I  had  under- 
stood the  situation,  I  should  have  j^ermitted  Mr.  Ken- 
dall to  leave  the  class." 

"  And  I  am  quite  willing  to  say  that  your  services 
as  an  instructor  are  entirely  satisfactory  to  me,"  added 
the  principal,  with  a  smile. 

They  were  more  satisfactory  to  him  than  they  were 
to  the  students  of  the  Josephine. 

"  Then  we  seem  to  be  in  full  accord  with  each  other 
on  these  points,"  replied  the  professor,  hopefully.  "  I 
trust  some  arrangement  may  be  made  to  reconcile  the 
differences  of  opinion  on  the  question  of  discipline. 
You  do  not  sustain  me,  ]Mr.  Lowinerton." 

"I  cannot,  sir.  If  I  did,  I  should  expect  the  Jose- 
phine to  go  to  the  bottom  with  all  on  board,  in  the 
first  gale  of  wind  she  encounters,  should  Captain 
Kendall  happen  to  be  reciting  his  Greek  at  the 
time." 

"  I  think  I  understand  the  matter  better  now,  and 
in  a  similar  emergency  I  should  permit  him  to  leave 
the  class." 

"  In  matters  of  seamanship  and  navigation,  I  have 
more  confidence  in  the  judgment  of  Captain  Kendall 
than  in  }ours.  He  must  be  absolute  in  his  position 
as  captain  of  the  vessel." 

9 


98  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

"  Of  course,  sir  ;  and  in  the  composition  of  a  soup 
doubtless  you  would  have  more  confidence  in  the 
judgment  of  your  cook  than  in  mine,"  added  the 
professor,  cynically  ;  for,  intellectually,  the  cook  and 
the  cajDtain  appeared  to  be  on  the  same  level  to  him  ; 
and  as  a  professor  of  Greek,  he  did  not  regard  it  as 
any  more  derogatory  to  his  dignity  not  to  know  any- 
thing of  the  principles  of  seamanship  than  to  be  igno- 
rant of  the  art  of  making  a  soup. 

"  The  order'which  I  have  written,  and  which  I  shall 
transmit  to  Captain  Kendall  as  soon  as  the  squadron 
comes  to  anchor,  will  set  the  matter  right,"  said  Mr. 
Lowington. 

"  Do  you  insist  on  issuing  that  order?"  asked  Mr. 
Hamblin. 

"  I  do." 

"  Let  me  say  that  Mr.  Stoute  did  not  indorse  my 
course,  and  that  in  future  I  will  give  Mr.  Kendall 
permission  to  leave  the  class  whenever  he  desires 
to  do  so." 

"That  is  very  well,  sir;  but,  under  the  circum- 
stances, I  cannot  permit  the  captain  to  be  embar- 
rassed even  by  the  necessity  of  asking  permission. 
If,  by  any  diffidence  on  his  part,  he  should  delay 
asking  leave  to  go  on  deck,  serious  mishaps  might 
occur." 

"  Then  I  am  to  be  subject  to  the  will  of  that  boy?" 
said  the  professor,  disgusted  at  the  thought. 

"  Not  unless  you  are  connected  with  the  sailing  de- 
partment of  the  vessel.  You  are  simply  prevented 
from  exercising  your  will  over  him,  to  the  detriment 
of  his  duties  as  a  navigator," 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IX    IIOLLA.ND    AND    BELGIUM.       99 

"  In  this  light  the  case  looks  diflerent  to  me,"  added 
the  professor,  wlio  was  laboring  to  recede  from  his 
position  as  gracefull}-  as  possible.  ••  I  am  willing  to 
permit  the  captain  to  have  his  own  will  in  all  matters 
l^ertaining  to  the  management  of  the  vessel,  as  I  am 
to  allow  the  cook  entire  freedom  in  making  his  soup." 

"  Then  nothing  more  need  be  said,  and  you  can  re- 
sume your  position  on  board  of  the  Josephine  at  once." 

"  I  am  not  entirely  satisfied  about  that  order,  Mr. 
Lovvington,"  added  Mr.  Hamblin. 

"Why  not?" 

"  Because  that  sustains  Mr.  Kendall  and  condemns 
me  in  a  public  and  formal  manner." 

"  That  is  jorecisely  what  I  intend  to  do." 

"  It  amounts  to  sacrificing  me,  bv  placing  me  in  a 
derogatory  position.  I  have  not  transcended  the  power 
given  me,  and  it  is  not  right  that  I  should  be  formally 
condemned." 

"  The  order  passes  no  judgment  upon  the  past ;  it 
relates  to  the  future  only.  Captain  Kendall  must 
understand  that  he  has  full  liberty  to  g-o  when  and 
where  he  pleases,  in  the  discharge  of  his  dutv.  I 
am  confident  he  will  not  abuse  this  liberty." 

"  But  I  am  to  stand  before  him  in  this  business  as 
a  whipped  puppy.  Couldn't  you  give  him  the  order 
verbally,  and  explain  my  j^osition  to  him?" 

"  What  is  your  position?  "  demanded  the  principal, 
with  a  smile. 

"  I  mean  simply  that  in  detaining  him  I  erred 
through   a  want  of  knowledge  of  seamanship." 

"  I  can  explain  that ;  but  I  think  it  would  be  better 
for  you  to  do  so," 


lOO  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

"  For  me  !  "  gasped  the  professor.  "  Why,  sir,  that 
would  he  an  apology  !  " 

"  It  would  he  merely  an  explanation,  which  would 
come  more  gracefully  from  3^ou  than  from  any  other 
person." 

"  I  don't  think  so,  sir.  It  would  be  lowering  my- 
self before  him." 

"  As  you  please,  Mr.  Hamblin.  I  will  explain  the 
matter  myself,  when  I  give  him  the  order." 

"  If  you  could  give  him  the  order  verbally,  it  would 
be  better." 

"  No  ;  he  must  have  the  written  order  to  show  to 
any  professor  who  disputes  his  authority.  But  Cap- 
tain Kendall  will  never  give  you  any  trouble.  He  is 
manly  and  gentle,  and  he  will  not  take  advantage  of 
his  position." 

"  I  think  he  will  have  abundant  ground  to  manifest 
his  triumph." 

"  He  will  not  do  anything  of  the  kind.  If  any  officer 
of  the  Josephine  treats  you  with  disrespect,  he  siiall  be 
suspended  at  once  from  office." 

"  That  is  very  proper,  sir,"  added  Mr.  Hamblin, 
heartily. 

The  learned  gentleman  let  himself  down  as  easily 
as  possible.  He  had  consented  to  remain  rather  than 
subject  the  principal  to  the  great  inconvenience  and 
delay  of  procuring  a  new  instructor.  Captain  Ken- 
dall was  to  be  independent  only  in  the  sailing  de- 
partment, in  which  he  had  no  disposition  to  interfere, 
any  more  than  with  the  cook.  He  regarded  it  as  a 
bitter  necessity  which  compelled  him  to  return  to 
the  Josephine  ;  for  he  could  not  forego  the  pecuniary 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.     Id 

advantage  and  the  opportunity  of  visiting  the  classic 
lands  which  the  voyage  presented  ;  but,  tiiough  he 
yielded  Avith  what  grace  he  could  command,  he  was 
dissatisfied  with  Mr.  Lowington,  and  more  dissatis- 
fied with  Paul. 

To  go  back  to  the  consort  unsustained  was  almost 
like  going  to  a  dungeon  for  a  capital  crime,  to  which 
nothing  but  i^ersonal  interest  induced  him  to  submit. 
If  the  captain  did  not  enjoy  his  triumph,  it  would  be 
a  decree  of  forbearance  which  he  could  not  compre- 
hend.  But  he  was  quite  certain  that  the  captain 
would  "  put  on  airs,"  abuse  his  absolute  liberty,  and 
perhaps  snub  his  teacher  before  the  class.  Mr. 
Hamblin  expected  this,  and  made  up  his  mind  to 
be  on  the  lookout  for  it. 

After  dinner  Mr.  Lowington  suggested  that  his  ser- 
vices must  be  much  needed  on  board  of  the  Josephine, 
and  proposed  to  send  him  to  her  at  once.  Mr.  Ham- 
blin consented,  and  as  the  consort  kept  astern  of  the 
ship,  the  latter  was  hove  to,  and  the  professor's  barge 
lowered.  ?vlr.  Lowington  went  with  the  learned  gen- 
tleman, and  agreeably  to  his  promise,  made  a  full  ex- 
planation to  Paul,  wdille  the  instructor,  without  a  word 
to  any  one,  hastened  to  the  steerage,  and  called  his 
class,  just  as  though  nothing  had  occurred.  It  was 
observed  that  he  was  unusually  sour,  crabbed,  and 
precise,  and  all  the  students  were  anxious  to  know 
how  the  question  of  discipline  had  been  settled. 

"  Read  this  order,  if  you  please,  Captain  Kendall," 
said  the  principal,  when  he  had  conducted  him  to  the 
cabin,  where  they  were  alone. 

*'  I  have  no  desire  to  leave  my  class,  unless  my  duty 
9* 


I02  DIKES   AND    DITCHES,    OR 

to  the  vessel  requires  it,"  added  Paul,  after  he  had  read 
the  order. 

"  I  did  not  suppose  you  had  ;  but  you  will  keep  that 
order  in  your  pocket,  and  remember  that  your  first  duty 
is  to  your  ship  and  crew." 

"  I  suppose  you  have  learned  by  this  time,  sir,  the 
reason  why  we  did  not  take  in  sail  sooner  on  Satur- 
day," continued  Paul,  blushing  deeply. 

"  I  have.  Professor  Hamblin  feels  very  badly  about 
this  matter.  At  the  time  of  it,  he  believed  he  was  right, 
for  he  knows  less  about  a  vessel  than  even  the  chap- 
lain of  the  ship.  He  acknowledges  now  that  he  was 
in  error.  Our  rules  did  not  before  apply  wnth  suffi- 
cient distinctness  to  your  particular  case,  as  captain  of 
the  vessel,  responsible  for  her  proper  navigation.  Mr. 
HambHn  did  not  overstep  the  letter  of  his  duty  in 
refusing  you  permission  to  go  on  deck,  and  I  only 
blame  him  for  his  w\ant  of  judgment.  By  this  order, 
which  corrects  the  ship's  rules,  you  are  made  inde- 
pendent in  all  matters  relating  to  the  management  of 
the  vessel." 

"  I  think  there  can  be  no  trouble  now,  sir,"  re- 
plied Paul,  delighted  to  find  that  his  conduct  was 
approved. 

"  I  hope  not ;  and  I  do  not  expect  any." 

Mr.  Lowington  returned  to  the  ship,  satisfied  that 
he  had  healed  the  wounds  of  both  the  suflerers.  Paul 
was  happy,  and  he  determined  to  treat  the  professor 
with  the  utmost  deference  and  kindness,  and  thus 
remove  the  remembrance  of  the  difficulty.  At  four 
o'clock,  after  the  squadron  had  passed  Beveland,  and 
entered    the    Belgian    territory,    Paul   went    down    to 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IX    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    I03 

recite  his  Greek,  as  usual.  He  could  not  help  seeing 
that  Mr.  Ilamblin's  lip  quivered,  and  that  he  was 
laborinor  under  strou":  emotions,  when  he  took  his 
place  at  the  mess  table.  The  captain  was  hardly  less 
embarrassed,  but  he  hoped  an  opportunity  would  soon 
occur  for  him  to  perform  some  kind  act  for  the  irri- 
tated gentleman. 

When  the  recitation  was  nearly  finished,  and  both 
parties  had  recovered  their  self-possession,  the  vessel 
gave  a  sudden  "  bump,"  which  nearly  tipped  the  pro- 
fessor off  his  stool ;  but  he  righted  himself,  and  was 
too  much  absorbed  in  his  favorite  study  to  think  of 
the  incident  for  a  moment. 

"  Mr.  Terrill  directs  me  to  report  to  you  that  the 
vessel  is  aground  ! "  said  one  of  the  midshipmen,  in 
breathless  haste,  touching  his  cap  to  the  captain. 

Paul  blushed  deeply,  and  was  intensely  annoyed  at 
this  repetition  of  the  circumstances  of  Saturday  ;  but 
there  was  no  alternative  but  for  him  to  go  on  deck. 

"Will  you  excuse  me,  Mr.  Hamblin?  "  asked  Paul, 
rising. 

The  professor  bowed,  but  made  no  reply  in  words. 
He  wondered  if  the  vessel  had  not  been  run  aground 
on  purpose  to  mortify  and  annov  him.  He  was  in- 
clined to  think  that  such  was  the  case,  and  that  it  had 
been  done  to  enable  the  captain  to  display  his  a1:)Solute 
authority. 

Paul  went  on  deck  ;  but  the  pilot  assured  him  that 
the  accident  would  not  subject  the  vessel  to  half  an 
hour's  delay,  for  the  tide  was  rising  very  rapidly.  He 
had  run  her  a' little  too  near  a  shoal,  while  the  Young 
America,  by  keeping  in  mid  channel,  had  gone  clear 


I04  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

There  was  nothing  for  the  captain  to  do  on  deck,  and 
he  returned  to  his  class.  The  Josephine  came  off 
the  ground  within  the  half  hour,  and  by  putting  on 
more  sail  overhauled  the  shi|)  before  she  reached 
Antwerp. 

"  Here  is  the  city,  Paul,"  said  Dr.  Winstock,  as  the 
Josephine  rounded  a  bend  in  the  river.  "  You  can 
see  the  spire  of  Antwerp  Cathedral." 

"  I  see  it,  sir.  I  have  heard  a  great  deal  about  it. 
This  is  farther  than  we  have  been  from  the  sea  since 
we  sailed." 

"  Yes,  it  is  a  long  pull  from  the  sea  for  a  sailing 
vessel ;  but  Antwerp  is  the  only  convenient  port  for 
visiting  the  greater  part  of  Belgium.  We  are  only  a 
short  distance  from  Brussels,  Ghent,  Malines,  and 
Liege.  I  suppose  we  shall  visit  no  other  port  in  Bel- 
gium ;  indeed,  there  is  no  other  convenient  one,  except 
Ostend." 

"  There  is  a  whole  fleet  of  British  steamers  at  anchor 
opposite  the  town,"  said  Paul,  when  the  Josephine  had 
gone  a  little  farther. 

"  A  great  many  merchant  steamers  come  up  the 
river.  There  are  regular  lines  to  London  and  Har- 
wich. Bv  the  latter  route  you  may  leave  Antwerp  at 
four  in  the  afternoon  and  be  in  London  at  nine  the 
next  morning,  though  the  Ostend  or  Calais  line  is 
quicker  and  better." 

"  Those  are  large  steamers,"  added  Paul,  as  the 
squadron  approached  the  fleet  at  anchor. 

"  Why,  that's  the  Victoria  and  Albert !  "  exclaimed 
the  doctor,  pointing  to  the  largest  of  the  ships.  "  That 
is  the  yacht  of  the  Qiieen  of  England '' 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    I05 

"  It  is  a  pretty  large  yacht,"  replied  Paul.  ''  What 
ure  the  other  steamers?  " 

"  They  are  the  consorts  of  the  yacht.  The  one 
that  lies  nearest  to  her  is  the  Osborne,  which  was  for- 
merly the  queen's  state  vessel.  The  others  are  merely 
a  kind  of  guard  of  honor." 

"  Does  it  take  five  steamships  to  bring  the  queen  over 
to  Antwerp?"  asked  Paul,  laughing. 

"  She  must  go  in  state  when  she  goes,"  added  the 
doctor.  "  The  Victoria  and  Albert  is  a  ship  of  twen- 
ty-four hundred  tons.  I  hope  we  shall  have  an  oppor- 
tunity to  go  on  board  of  her." 

"  I  hope  we  shall ;  but  that  is  hardly  to  be  ex- 
pected." 

"  They  do  not  exhibit  her  when  she  is  in  English 
waters,  but  I  think  they  do  when  she  is  abroad." 

"  All  ready  to  moor  ship,  Mr.  Terrill,"  said  Paul,  as 
the  Young  America  gave  the  signal. 

The  Josephine  ran  up  to  a  point  near  the  ship,  and 
within  a  couple  of  cables'  length  of  the  royal  squad- 
ron let  go  her  anchor.  Port  officers  came  on  board, 
and  explained  the  harbor  regulations  ;  among  them, 
one  whose  duty  it  was  to  determine  the  amount  due 
the  pilot.  This  official  "  hooked  "  the  vessel,  or  meas- 
ured her  draught.  As  the  Josephine  drew  about  ten 
feet  of  water,  the  charge  was  one  hundred  and  ninety- 
eig-ht  francs. 

Everything  was  made  snug  on  board  ;  the  ropes 
were  carefully  coiled,  and  all  the  running  rigging 
hauled  taut ;  for,  lying  near  the  queen's  yacht,  Paul 
desired  to  have  the  vessel  present  her  best  appearance. 
The  work  of  the  day  was  ended,  and  the  students  were 


I06  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

at  liberty  to  observe  the  strange  scenes  around  them. 
There  was  the  city  of  Antwerp,  but  it  was  not  much 
diflerent  from  any  other  city.  The  Scheldt  formed  a 
crescent  in  front  of  the  town,  and  there  was  a  multi- 
tude of  vessels  lying  at  the  quays,  as  the  space  on  the 
shore  is  called.  The  river  is  about  fifteen  hundred 
feet  wide,  and  deep  enough  to  float  a  ship  of  the  line. 
The  city  is  very  strongly  fortified,  on  both  sides  of  the 
river. 

"  Here  we  are,  for  a  week  or  two,"  said  Pelham  to 
the  first  lieutenant,  after  all  the  ship's  duty  had  been 
performed. 

"  I  suppose  so,"  replied  Terrill.  "  It  seems  to  me 
just  as  though  we  had  been  sailing  down  hill  ever 
since  we  came  into  the  river.     Hark  !  " 

It  was  just  six  o'clock,  and  the  chime  of  bells  on  the 
great  Cathedral  played  a  silver-toned  melody  wdiich 
was  almost  enchanting. 

"  I  should  not  object  to  hearing  that  every  hour," 
said  Pelham,  when  the  tune  was  finished.  "  Do  they 
play  the  same  tune  over  again?" 

"  I'm  sure  I  don't  know,"  replied  Terrill. 

"  They  have  a  different  tune  for  each  hour  of  the 
day,  and  play  the  entire  music  of  an  opera,"  in- 
terposed Dr.  Winstock.  "  They  give  a  short  strain 
at  the  quarter  hour,  and  a  longer  one  at  the  half 
hour." 

"  That  will  be  music  all  day  long." 

"  Yes,  and  all  night  long,"  added  the  surgeon,  as  he 
walked  away  with  the  captain. 

"I  wish  he  were  going  to  stay  on  board  instead  of 
that  solemn  old  lunatic,  the  Greek  and   Latin   hum- 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.     IO7 

bug,"  said  Terrill,  who  had  a  habit  of  speaking  his 
mind  very  2:)hiinly. 

"  Do  you  know  how  the  row  was  settled  between 
him  and  the  captain?"  asked  Pelham. 

"  I  do  not ;  but  I  am  confident  Mr.  Lowington  sus- 
tained the  captain,"  answered  Terrill.  "  I  was  in 
hopes  that  we  had  got  rid  of  him  when  he  went  on 
board  of  the  ship  yesterday,  and  I  was  mad  when  I 
saw  him  coming  back  to-day  noon." 

"  There  is  not  a  fellow  in  the  Josephine  that  didn't 
have  the  same  thought,"  added  Pelham.  "  I  don't  see 
why  a  man  need  try  to  make  himself  as  disagreeable 
as  he  does.  All  the  students  were  willing  to  treat 
him  with  respect,  and  get  their  lessons  well ;  but  he 
is  as  crank  as  an  alderman." 

"  I  wish  we  could  get  rid  of  him,"  suggested 
Terrill. 

"  Of  course  we  can't  do  that,"  replied  Pelham,  who 
was  not  disposed  to  get  into  any  more  scrapes. 

"  We  might  make  the  Josephine  uncomfortable  for 
him,"  suggested  Terrill. 

"  We  might ;  but  I  thmk  we  had  better  not,"  added 
the  prudent  Pelham,  made  wise  by  experience,  as  the 
bell  for  the  cabin  supper  rang. 

Professor  Hamblin  looked  unusually  gloomy  and 
morose,  but  he  labored  perseveringfy  to  keep  up  his 
dignity.  Paul  sat  at  the  head  of  the  table,  ordinarily 
with  his  officers  on  each  side  of  him  in  the  order  of 
their  rank  ;  but  on  the  present  occasion.  Dr.  Winstock 
occupied  the  place  at  his  right.  At  the  opposite  end 
of  the  board  was  Mr.  Hamblin,  with  the  fat  professor 
on   his  right.     Behind   the  captain's  chair   stood  the 


loS  DIKES    ANJU    DITCHES,  OR 

head  steward,  while  the  second  steward  was  stationed 
near  the  instructors. 

Mr.  Ilambhn  occasionally  cast  a  furtive  glance  at 
the  3oung  commander ;  but  Paul  seemed  to  be  as 
composed  as  though  nothing  had  happened  to  dis- 
turb the  friendly  relations  between  them.  Though  he 
(lid  not  observe  it,  Terrill  persisted  that  the  learned 
gentleman  looked  "  ugly,"  and  would  make  another 
row  as  soon  as  he  could  get  a  chance. 

"  I  can  see  through  the  mainsail  when  there  is  a 
hole  in  it,"  said  the  executive  officer  to  Pelham,  when 
they  went  on  deck  again.  "  If  there  wasii't  mischief 
in  Mr.  Hamblin's  eye,  there  never  was  mischief  in  any 
man's  eye." 

"  What  do  you  mean?  "  asked  Pelham. 

"  You  know  the  old  lunatic  threatened  to  have  the 
captain  suspended  for  leaving  the  class.  He  failed  in 
that,  and  if  he  don't  try  it  again,  I'm  mistaken  in  the 
man." 

"  Of  course  he  won't  make  any  more  complaints 
till  he  has  something  to  complain  of,  and  Paul  won't 
give  him  a  chance." 

"  I  don't  suppose  he  will  voluntarily  ;  but  his  con- 
duct will  be  distorted.  I  tell  you  the  professor  is 
ugly,  and  he  hates  the  ca^Dtain  as  badly  as  a  Christian 
can." 

"  He  hasn't  improved  his  popularity  on  board  by 
what  he  has  done." 

"  Every  fellow  on  the  Josephine  is  down  upon  him. 
There'll  be  a  row  on  board  soon,  in  my  opinion," 
added  Terrill,  as  Dr.  Winstock  and  Paul  came  on 
deck. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGiaM.    I09 

A  boat  was  lowered  to  send  the  surgeon  on  board 
the  ship.  Paul  accompanied  him  ;  and  on  the  way 
they  went  up  to  the  gangway  of  the  Victoria  and 
Albert,  and  ascertained  that  visitors  would  be  ad- 
mitted to  the  ship  on  the  following  day,  from  ten  till 
four. 

10 


no  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 


CHAPTER  Vir. 

THE    LECTURE    ON    BELGIUM. 

ALL  hands,  attend  lecture  on  board  ship,  ahoy  !  '* 
shouted  the  boatswain  of  the  Josephine,  as  the 
signal  to  this  effect  appeared  on  the  Young  America. 

Ordinarily  this  call  was  not  an  agreeable  one  ;  for 
the  students  had  voted  that  it  was  "dull  music"  to 
listen  to  a  stupid  lecture  on  geography  and  history  ; 
but  in  the  present  instance  it  was  not  so.  The  in- 
formation communicated  in  regard  to  England  and 
Scotland  was  so  familiar  to  them  that  it  was  robbed 
of  its  interest ;  but  the  school-books  contained  only 
very  meagre  allusions  to  Holland  and  Belgium.  Many 
of  them  had  read  Mr.  Motley's  eloquent  descriptions 
of  the  bravery  and  devotion  to  principle  of  the  Dutch 
people  in  their  civil  wars  and  in  their  terrible  conflict 
with  the  Spaniards,  and  they  were  desirous  of  know- 
ing more  about  the  country  and  its  inhabitants. 

Holland  is  in  itself  an  exceedingly  interesting  coun- 
try. The  students  had  seen  something  of  its  dikes  and 
ditches,  and  were  anxious  to  see  more.  The  region 
seemed  to  be  very  much  like  a  ship  ;  for  it  was  neceS' 
sary  to  keep  the  water  out  as  much  as  possible,  and  to 
pump  out  that  which  leaked  in  or  rained  in.  The 
boys  were  to  go  on  shore,  and  they  desired  to  under- 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.     Ill 

stand  something  of  the  history  of  the  country,  in  order 
to  appreciate  the  various  objects  which  commemorated 
mighty  events  in  the  past.  The  citadel  of  Antwerp 
was  in  sight  at  a  bend  up  the  river,  and  they  were 
curious  to  know  its  antecedents. 

On  both  vessels  the  li])raries  had  been  ransacked  fol 
information  by  the  more  enthusiastic  of  the  pupils,  and 
many  interesting  facts  had  been  gleaned  from  the  vol- 
umes ;  but  those  who  knew  the  most  about  the  country 
were  the  most  anxious  to  know  more.  With  only  a 
few  exceptions,  therefore,  the  "  call  to  lecture,"  on  the 
present  occasion,  was  a  welcome  one.  The  boats  were 
lowered,  and  all  hands  in  the  Josephine,  including  the 
professors,  went  on  board  of  the  ship,  leaving  the  ves* 
sel  in  charge  of  the  adult  forward  officers. 

Mr.  Mapps  had  already  made  his  preparations  in 
the  steerage,  and  on  the  foremast  hung  a  large  Dutch 
map  of  the  Netherlands.  The  students  filed  in  and 
took  their  seats.  The  professor  looked  unusually 
pleasant  and  enthusiastic,  probably  because  he  felt 
that  his  wares  were  in  demand. 

"  Young  gentlemen,  before  you  is  the  map  of  the 
Netherlands,"  he  began.  "  For  our  present  purpose, 
the  term  must  include  both  Holland  and  Belgium  ;  for 
until  1830  the  two  were  one  country,  the  latter  having 
had,  for  no  long  period,  a  separate  political  existence 
till  that  time. 

"The  Dutch  name  of  the  country  is  Nederlande7i ; 
the  French  name,  Pays-Bas ;  both  of  which  have  the 
same  meaning  —  'low  countries.'  By  this  time  you 
have  realized  the  literal  significance  of  the  term  ;  for 
nearly  all  the  region  consists  of  an  immense  low  plain, 


112  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 

intersected  by  rivers  or  arms  of  the  sea.  A  reference 
to  the  physical  geography  of  Europe  shows  you  tliat 
the  great  northern  phiin,  containing  nine  times  the 
area  of  France,  or  about  one  half  the  area  of  Europe, 
extends  from  the  Ural  Mountains  to  the  German 
Ocean. 

"  Doubtless  the  whole  region  now  included  in  the 
Netherlands  was  once  a  mere  swamp,  a  wild  and  use- 
less morass,  imfit  for  the  habitation  of  man.  Three 
great  rivers,  you  perceive  on  the  map,  have  their 
course,  in  whole  or  in  part,  through  Holland  and 
Belgium  —  the  Rhine,  the  Maas,  or  Meuse,  and  the 
Scheldt. 

"  By  a  reference  to  your  navigation  charts,  young 
gentlemen,  you  w^ill  often  find  banks  and  bars  thrown 
up  at  the  mouths  of  rivers.  At  the  mouth  of  the 
Scheldt,  several  miles  from  the  shore,  there  are 
Thornton's  Ridge,  The  Rabs,  Schouwen  Bank, 
Steen  Banks,  and  others  of  similar  formation.  At 
the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  in  our  own  country, 
you  are  aware  that  large  vessels  find  great  difficulty 
in  getting  over  the  bar.  If  we  take  a  tumbler  full 
of  Mississippi  water,  after  heavy  rains  in  the  north- 
west, and  let  it  stand  a  few  moments,  a  thick  sediment 
settles  at  the  bottom.  This  sediment  forms  the  bar 
at  the  mouth  of  the  river.  The  sand  and  mud  are 
carried  down  by  the  current,  and  when  the  water 
has  a  chance  to  rest,  it  deposits  its  burden  upon  the 
bottom." 

"  But  why  in  that  particular  place?"  asked  an  in- 
terested student. 

"  Because  the  current  of  the  river  comes  to  a  halt 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.     II3 

where  it  meets  the  inflowing  tide  of  the  gulf,  or 
when  it  has  spent  its  force.  These  bars  are  some- 
times formed  by  currents  resulting  from  the  com- 
bined action  of  the  sea  and  the  flow  of  the  river,  or 
by  winds.  A  heavy  gale  has  been  known  to  change 
the  aspect  of  a  coast,  to  shut  u^d  a  harbor,  or  to  open 
one  where  there  had  before  been  no  inlet.  Cape  Cod 
presents  some  remarkable  instances  of  these  2^hysical 
revolutions. 

"  The  great  rivers  of  the  Netherlands,  in  like  man- 
ner, have  brought  down  their  sands  and  mud,  and  de- 
posited them  on  what  now  forms  the  shore  of  the 
country.  The  forces  of  the  ocean,  against  which 
the  Dutchman  of  to-day  has  to  contend  for  the  pres- 
ervation of  his  life  and  property,  assisted  in  making 
this  country  a  habitable  region.  Certain  westerly  rnd 
south-westerly  winds  drive  the  waters  of  the  Atlantic 
into  the  German  Ocean.  The  coast  of  the  country, 
you  see  by  the  map,  is  exposed  to  the  longest  sweep 
of  the  wind  from  the  north-west,  and  the  most  violent 
tempests  to  which  Holland  is  exposed  come  from  that 
direction.     Now,  what  is  the  effect  of  these  storms?" 

"■  They  pile  up  the  sand-bars,"  replied  Captain 
Kendall. 

"  Precisely  so  ;  the  dunes  and  ridges  of  sand  which 
border  the  country  from  the  straits  of  Dover  to  the 
Texel  are  caused  by  these  violent  winds  from  the 
north-west.  The  effect  of  this  piling  up  of  the  sands 
was  eventually  to  limit,  in  a  measure,  tlie  boiu'idary 
of  the  sea.  The  dunes  and  ridges  formed  the  founda- 
tion  for  the  dikes  which  the  industrious  and  perse- 
vering Dutchman  has  erected  upon  them,  and  by 
lo"^ 


114  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

which  he  has  made  his  country.  For  the  want  of 
time,  I  shall  defer  the  physical  features  of  Holland, 
and  a  more  particular  description  of  its  dikes  and 
ditches,  to  a   future   occasion.      In  what  country  arc 


we  now 


9  " 


"In  Belgium,  sir,"  replied  McLeish,  who  always 
answered  when  he  could,  though  in  general  knowl- 
edge he  was  far  behind  his  American  classmates. 

"What  is  the  French  name?" 

"  La  Bclgiquer 

"  The  German  ?  " 

"  Belglenr 

"What  is  the  French  adjective?" 

"  Belger 

"  There  is  a  liberal  newspaper  published  at  Brus- 
sels, the  capital  of  Belgium,  which  is  often  quoted  as 
political  authority  in  the  United  States,  called  the 
Independancc  Beige.     What  does  the  term  mean?" 

"  '  The  Belgian  Independent,'  or  '  The  Independent 
Belgian,' "  laughed  Pelham. 

"  But  the  first  word  is  a  noun." 

"  'The  Belgian  Freeman,'  or  something  of  that  sort." 

"  Doubtless  it  will  bear  that  rendering,  though  it 
means  literally  '  Belgian  Independence.'  Belgium 
is  bounded  on  the  north,  and  partly  on  the  east,  by 
Holland  ;  mostly  on  the  east  by  the  Rhenish  prov- 
inces of  Prussia,  forming  a  part  of  Germany  ;  on  the 
south-west  by  France  ;  and  on  the  north-west  by  the 
German  Ocean.  It  has  an  area  of  eleven  thousand 
three  hundred  and  thirteen  miles  ;  that  is,  it  is  about 
the  size  of  Maryland,  or  of  Massachusetts  and  Con- 
necticut united. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND   AND    BELGIUM.     II5 

"  Its  population  in  1S63  was  about  five  millions, 
equal  to  the  aggregate  of  New  York  and  Massachu- 
setts. In  New  England,  in  1S60,  there  were  fifty 
persons  to  the  square  mile  ;  in  Massachusetts,  which 
is  the  most  densely  peopled  of  the  United  States,  one 
hundred  and  seventy  ;  but  Belgium  has  four  hundred 
and  forty  souls  to  the  square  mile,  and  is  the  most 
thickly-settled  country  in  the  world. 

"  Belgium  contains  nine  provinces,  the  largest  of 
which,  in  area,  is  Luxembourg,  though  it  is  one  of  the 
smallest  in  population.  The  largest  in  population  is 
East  Flanders." 

"  Flanders  !  "  exclaimed  Terrill ;  "I  was  hoping 
you  would  say  something  about  Flanders,  for  I  had 
an  idea  it  was  Belgium." 

"  It  is  a  part  of  it.  Flanders  has  belonged  to  France, 
Spain,  Austria,  and  Holland,  at  times  ;  but  it  was  di- 
vided into  two  provinces  by  the  King  of  Holland,  and 
became  a  part  of  the  United  Kingdom  of  Belgium 
when  it  was  established  in  1830.  It  figures  largely 
in  history,  and  '  our  army  in  Flanders  '  is  a  proverb. 

"  The  soil  of  Belgium  is  generally  sandy  and  poor; 
but,  by  skill  and  industry,  the  people  obtain  large 
crops  from  it.  In  a  country  so  densely  peopled  there 
could  not  be  many  large  farms,  and  the  majority  of 
the  farmers  cultivate  what  would  not  be  more  than 
a  garden  in  America  ;  but  the  system  of  agriculture 
is  not  surpassed  by  that  of  any  country  in  the  world. 
Flax-raising  is  the  principal  occupation  of  the  farm- 
ers ;  but  grasses  and  roots  receive  particular  attention. 
Horses,  cattle,  and  sheep  are  raised  in  great  numbers. 

''  The  manufactures  of  Belgium  are  very  celebrated. 


Il6  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

The  laces  of  Brussels  and  Mechlin  (Malines)  have  the 
highest  reputation.  Linen  goods,  carpets,  woollens, 
cottons,  hosiery,  are  largely  produced.  The  foreign 
and  domestic  commerce  of  Belgium,  largelj-  carried 
on  through  the  port  of  Antwerp,  is  extensive. 

"  Belgium  is  a  flat  country,  as  we  have  said.  There 
are  no  mountains,  though  in  the  j^i'ovinces  of  Liege 
and  Brabant  the  American  traveller  will  find  a  variety 
of  scenery  similar  to  that  in  the  eastern  part  of  Massa- 
chusetts and  Connecticut.  This  portion  of  Belgium 
is  a  beautiful  garden. 

"The  government,  according  to  the  charter  of  1831, 
is  a  constitutional,  representative,  and  hereditary  mon- 
archy ;  that  is,  it  has  a  constitution,  a  parliament,  and 
the  oldest  son  of  the  king  is  his  successor.  The  king's 
person  is  declared  to  be  sacred,  and  his  ministers,  in- 
stead of  himself,  are  held  responsible  for  the  govern- 
ment acts.  The  legislative  branch  consists  of  a  senate 
and  a  chamber  of  representatives ;  but  the  king  must 
sign  their  acts  before  they  can  become  laws. 

"  The  members  of  both  houses  of  the  legislature 
are  chosen  by  the  people,  and  are  called  dcj^uties. 
Only  citizens  who  pay  a  certain  amount  of  direct 
taxes  can  vote.  The  deputies  who  live  out  of  the 
town  in  which  the  session  is  held  are  paid  sixty-two 
dollars  a  month.  They  are  elected  for  four  years, 
half  every  \,wo  years.  The  political  privileges  of  the 
people  are  only  less  than  those  of  our  own  country. 

"  The  present  king  is  Leopold  L*  He  is  seventy- 
four  years  old,  and  for  the  last  fifty  years  has  been  a 

*  Leopold  I.  died  Dec.  10,  1S65,  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
bon,  Leopold  II. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    II^ 

man  of  mark  in  Europe.  lie  was  for  some  time  in 
the  service  of  the  Emperor  of  Russia,  and  went  to 
England  with  the  allied  sovereigns,  in  1S14,  where 
he  became  acquainted  with,  and  afterwards  married, 
the  Princess  Charlotte,  daughter  of  George  IV.  ;  but 
she  died  within  two  years.  In  1S30  Leopold  was 
elected  King  of  Greece  ;  but  he  finally  refused  the 
crown,  because  the  conditions  he  made  were  not 
complied  with.  In  1S31  he  was  elected  King  of  the 
Belgians,  and  was  crowned  the  same  year.  The 
next  year  he  married  Louise,  the  daughter  of  Louis 
Philippe,  King  of  France.  Leopold,  Duke  of  Bra- 
bant, will  succeed  him.  He  has  several  other  sons 
and  daughters,  among  them  Marie  Charlotte,  wife 
of  Maximilian,  Archduke  of  Austria,  who  has  been 
elected  Emperor  of  Mexico.  Leopold  is  one  of  the 
richest  men  in   Europe. 

"  Nearly  all  the  people  of  Belgium  are  Roman 
Catholics,  there  being  but  about  thirteen  thousand 
Protestants  and  two  thousand  Jews  ;  but  the  largest 
religious  liberty  is  allowed  to  all  sects.  A  portion 
of  the  salary  of  ministers  of  all  denominations  is  paid 
from  the  national  treasury.  While  the  Catholics  re- 
ceive seven  hundred  thousand  dollars  from  the  state, 
the  Protestants  obtain  eleven  thousand,  and  the  Jews 
two  thousand  dollars.  The  salary  paid  by  the  state 
to  the  archbishop  is  four  thousand  two  hundred  tlol- 
lars,  and  to  a  bishop  about  three  thousand. 

"  The  history  of  Flanders  is  substantially  the  early 
histor)^  of  Belgium.  Many  changes  were  made  in  the 
territorial  limit  of  the  country  from  time  to  time,  in 
the  hands  of  its  different  owners.     The  first  mention 


Il8  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

of  this  country  in  history  is  in  the  time  of  Julius  Caesar, 
who  conquered  the  Low  Countries,  and  the  Romans 
held  thcni  till  the  year  400,  when  they  were  joined  to 
the  empire  of  the  Franks.  They  formed  part  of  the 
vast  realm  of  Charlemagne. 

"  After  the  Romans  had  abandoned  the  territory, 
several  independent  nobles  established  themselves  in 
the  southern  part  of  the  Netherlands.  Among  them 
were  the  Counts  of  Flanders,  who  became  very  power- 
ful and  influential  men.  They  are  to  be  regarded  as 
the  founders  of  the  Flemish  provinces.  Having  no 
male  heirs,  their  possessions  went  to  the  house  of 
Burgundy.  Philip,  Duke  of  Burgundy,  married  Mar- 
garet, Countess  of  Flanders,  and,  upon  the  death  of 
her  father,  she  brought  to  him  the  country  of  Flanders 
and  other  valuable  possessions. 

"  During  the  succeeding  hundred  years,  Namur, 
Brabant,  Limbourg,  Hainault,  Holland,  Zealand, 
Friesland,  and  Luxembourg,  all  of  which  now  belong 
to  Holland  and  Belgium,  were  added  to  the  territories 
of  the  Dukes  of  Burgundy.  At  this  period  appears 
the  powerful  but  rash  and  cruel  Charles  the  Bold. 
His  life  was  spent  in  open  or  secret  strife  with  Louis 
XL,  king  of  France,  whose  suzerain,  or  nominal  vas- 
sal, he  was.  The  king  was  instrumental  in  stirring  up 
rebellion  in  several  cities  of  the  Low  Countries,  which 
the  duke  put  dow^i  with  his  accustomed  severity. 

"  Charles,  in  revenge,  having  leagued  with  some 
discontented  French  princes,  Louis  secretly  fomented 
an  insurrection  in  Liecrc.  When  the  blow  was  first 
struck,  the  crafty  king  was  paying  a  visit  to  his 
cousin   of    Burgundy,    as    he   called   the   duke,    who, 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    I  I9 

on  hearing  the  news,  retained  his  sovereign  as  a  pris- 
oner, threatening  to  kill  him  for  his  perfidy.  The 
cunning  prince  tried  to  pacify  his  enraged  host.  He 
was  but  partially  successful,  and  could  only  obtain  his 
liberty  by  submitting  to  the  most  humiliating  terms. 
The  duke  compelled  his  royal  guest  to  march  in  per- 
son with  him  to  the  revolted  city,  and  assist  his  vassal 
in  putting  down  the  rebellion  he  had  himself  instigated. 

"  Charles  the  Bold  was  slain  in  battle,  and  his  death 
ending  his  line  of  dukes,  Louis  seized  upon  several  of 
the  provinces.  Mary,  the  daughter  of  Charles,  was 
married  to  the  Archduke  of  Austria,  who  claimed  the 
Burgundian  provinces  in  right  of  his  wife.  He  ob- 
tained possession,  however,  of  only  Franche-comte  and 
the  Low  Countries.  The  conflicting  claims  for  these 
territories  kept  Austria  and  France  at  war  for  a  long 
time.. 

"  The  Archduke  ^Laximilian,  who  married  Mary  of 
Burgundy,  became  Emperor  of  Germany  on  the  death 
of  his  father.  He  had  two  children  by  her,  Pliilip  and 
Margaret,  the  former  of  whom  married  Joanna,  daugh- 
ter of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella  of  Spain.  They  were 
the  parents  of  Charles  V.,  Emperor  of  Germany  and 
King  of  all  Spain.  During  this  period  the  Low  Coun- 
tries were  governed  by  ^Laximilian,  Philip,  and 
Charles,  deriving  their  right  from  Charles  the  Bold. 

"Charles  V.  was  succeeded  as  King  of  Spain  by 
Philip  IL,  his  son,  who  also  inherited  the  Flemish 
provinces.  Mr.  Motle\ 's  incomparable  History  of 
the  Rise  of  the  Dutch  Republic,  commences  at  this 
point,  with  the  abdication  of  Charles  V.,  and  the  ac- 
cession of  Philip  IL     I  hope  all  who  have  not  read 


I20  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

this  work  will  do  so,  as  many  of  you  can,  here  in  the 
midst  of  the  scenes  described  in  its  glowing  pages. 

'^  Philip  was  a  bigot  and  a  tyrant,  and  his  despotism, 
which  included  the  establishment  of  the  Inquisition, 
drove  the  people  to  madness,  and  provoked  them  to 
rebellion.  During  the  reign  of  Charles  V.  the  Refor- 
mation had  made  considerable  progress  in  Germany, 
and  its  principles  were  firmly  planted  in  the  Low 
Countries.  Philip  imposed  upon  himself  the  duty  of 
rooting  out  the  obnoxious  doctrines,  and  of  restoring 
the  supremacy  of  the  Catholic  church. 

"After  his  accession  to  the  Netherlands,  the  king 
remained  four  years  in  the  country,  and  then  departed 
for  Spain,  from  which  he  did  not  again  return.  He 
made  his  sister  regent,  and  she  was  to  be  assisted  by 
Granvelle,  Bishop  of  Arras.  William,  Prince  of 
Orange,  and  the  Counts  Egmont  and  Horn,  were  asso- 
ciated with  the  bishop  as  councillors,  but  they  had  no 
real  power  or  influence. 

"  The  despotic  conduct  of  Granvelle,  and  the  at- 
tempt on  his  part  to  introduce  the  Inquisition,  by  order 
of  his  royal  master,  excited  the  most  desperate  oppo- 
sition. The  people  organized  under  the  lead  of  the 
Prince  of  Orange,  and  Egmont  and  Horn,  and  an  in- 
surrection broke  out  in  Flanders,  in  1566.  These 
Protestant  rebels  have  been  styled  iconoclasts,  or  im- 
age-breakers, for  they  broke  into  the  churches,  over- 
turned the  images,  defaced  the  valuable  paintings,  and 
otherwise  injured  the  church  property. 

"  The  famous  Cathedral  of  Notre  Dame,  which  3'ou 
can  see  from  the  deck  of  the  ship,  was  ravaged  by  the 
mob.    The  statues  of  Christ,  the  Virgin,  and  the  Saints 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    121 

were  hurled  from  their  pedestals  ;  the  rich  paintings, 
the  choicest  works  of  Flemish  art,  were  cut  to  pieces ; 
the  ortjans  were  torn  down,  the  altars  overturned,  and 
the  gold  and  silver  vessels  used  in  the  mass  were  car- 
ried ofl'.  For  three  days  these  tumultuous  proceedings 
continued,  and  were  suppressed  only  when  the  fury  of 
the  mob  had  ceased,  by  the  Knights  of  the  Golden 
Fleece,  of  which  the  Prince  of  Orange  was  a  member. 
The  career  of  this  remarkable  man  is  closely  identified 
with  the  history  of  the  Netherlands  during  this  period. 
He  was  opposed  to  the  violence  of  the  mob,  not  only 
from  prudential  motives,  but  because  his  own  religious 
views  were  not  yet  in  sympathy  with  the  Protestant 
reformers,  though  he  afterwards  fully  embraced  their 
doctrines. 

"  The  patriots  of  the  Low  Countries  were,  in  the 
beginning  of  these  troubles,  both  Catholic  and  Prot- 
estant ;  but  the  sacrilegious  conduct  of  the  mob  de- 
tached the  former  from  the  cause,  and  as  the  Catholics 
were  more  numerous  in  the  southern  than  in  the  north- 
ern provinces,  they  finally  turned  the  scale  in  favor  of 
Philip  II.  in  their  own  section,  while  the  people  of 
Holland  established  their  independence. 

"  Philip  then  sent  the  savage  and  relentless  Duke 
of  Alva  to  suppress  the  new  religion  in  the  Nether- 
lands. Egmont  and  Horn  were  beheaded  at  Brussels, 
and  the  Prince  of  Orange  retired  into  German}-,  ap- 
pealing to  the  Protestant  princes  for  assistance.  With 
an  army  he  had  raised  in  Germany,  and  with  money 
obtained  there  and  of  Qiieen  Elizabeth  of  England, 
he  marched  into  the  Netherlands,  and  called  his  peo- 
ple to  arms.  A  long  and  terrible  war  ensued,  in 
]  I 


122  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

which  the  Dutch  suffered  up  to  the  limit  of  human 
endurance,  and  disphiyed  a  heroism  which  is  without 
parallel  in  the  history  of  the  nations. 

"The  Prince  of  Orange  was  created  Stadtholder ; 
almost  unlimited  powers  were  conferred  upon  him, 
and  for  years  he  struggled  against  the  most  stupen- 
dous obstacles.  The  Dutch,  being  a  maritime  peo- 
ple, established  a  navy,  which  inflicted  many  heavy 
blows  upon  the  Spanish  power.  The  severity  of  Alva 
so  goaded  the  Netherlanders  that  the  whole  country 
was  in  arms  against  him.  He  failed  to  reduce  them  to 
subjection,  and  was  recalled.  His  next  two  eminent 
successors  died  of  fever,  and  the  Duke  of  Parma  was 
then  sent  as  regent  of  Philip.  In  1579  the  northern 
provinces  declared  their  independence,  and  established 
the  Dutch  Republic,  or  the  Seven  United  Provinces, 
of  which  the  Prince  of  Orange  was  stadtholder. 

"  Philip  was  so  incensed  at  the  success  of  the  Prince 
of  Orange  that  he  offered  a  large  reward  to  any  one 
who  would  take  his  life,  and  a  fanatical  Burgundian 
shot  him  at  Delft,  in  15S4.  With  this  event  Mr.  Mot- 
ley closes  his  History  of  the  Rise  of  the  Dutch  Re- 
public. 

"  Belgium  adhered  to  Spain,  or,  rather,  the  Duke 
of  Parma  succeeded  in  reducing  it  to  subjection  after 
the  murder  of  the  stadtholder.  In  1598  Philip  gave 
the  Flemish  provinces  to  his  daughter  Isabella.  But  on 
her  death  without  children,  the  country  again  reverted 
to  Spain.  After  more  than  a  century  of  strife,  includ- 
ing the  Thirty  Years'  War,  the  repeated  quarrels  be- 
tween England  and  Spain,  and  France  and  Spain,  and 
the  War  of  the    Spanish    Succession,   during  which 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.     1 23 

period  the  Low  Countries  were  often  the  battle-ground, 
Belgium  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Austrians. 

"  In  setthng  up  the  disastrous  strife  of  the  century, 
the  treaty-making  powers  had  given  several  of  the 
Belgian  fortresses  to  Holland,  in  order  to  check  the 
ambition  of  France,  and  the  Dutch  closed  the  Scheldt. 
After  an  interval  of  peace  under  Maria  Theresa  of 
Austria,  her  son,  Joseph  II.,  attempted  to  break 
through  portions  of  the  treaties,  and  obliged  the  troops 
of  Holland  to  evacuate  his  territory,  but  he  could  not 
open  the  river.  He  v/as  rash  in  his  proceedings,  and 
a  rebellion  was  organized  against  him. 

"  About  this  time  commenced  the  French  Revolu- 
tion, whose  influence  extended  to  the  Low  Countries, 
and  in  17S9  the  Austrian  garrison  at  Brussels  was 
forced  to  surrender.  But  the  people  were  not  united, 
and  their  dissensions  enabled  the  Austrians  to  resrain 
their  power.  The  French  Directory  sent  an  army  to 
assist  the  Belgians,  the  Austrians  were  driven  from 
the  country,  and  Belgium  was  incorporated  with 
France. 

"Napoleon,  while  he  controlled  the  destinies  of 
France,  devoted  much  attention  to  the  Flemish  prov- 
inces, and  especially  to  the  city  of  Antwerp.  When 
you  go  on  shore  you  will  see  immense  docks  and  forti- 
fications built  by  him.  He  intended  to  make  it  a 
great  naval  station,  and  it  would  have  been  of  vast 
importance  to  him  in  carrying  out  his  plans  for  the 
invasion  of  England.  The  works  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  river,  called  '  Tete  de  Flandre,'  were  the  be- 
giiuiing  of  an  immense  military  town.  During  this 
period  England  was  almost  continually  at  war  with 


124  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

France,  and  several  expeditions  were  sent  against 
Holland  and  Belgium. 

"  When  Napoleon  abdicated,  the  Flemish  Provinces 
were  restored  to  Austria  ;  but  when  the  allies  who 
had  overthrown  Napoleon  finally  disposed  of  their  con- 
quests, Holland  and  Belgium  were  united,  and  given 
to  the  Stadtholder,  who  had  adhered  to  the  allies.  He 
was  styled  William  I.,  King  of  the  Netherlands. 

"  The  two  sections  could  not  agree  ;  the  Dutch  re- 
garded Belgium  as  a  conquered  province,  and  were 
not  at  all  conciliatory  in  their  treatment  of  the  new 
acquisition.  The  Belgians  were  essentially  French 
in  their  habits,  and  disliked  the  Dutch.  In  1S30 
they  revolted  against  their  masters,  the  insurrection 
extended  to  the  principal  cities,  and  the  king  called 
upon  the  great  powers  who  had  given  him  the  coun- 
try. A  congress  assembled  in  London  at  his  request, 
which,  however,  decreed  the  independence  of  Bel- 
gium. 

"  The  people  first  elected  a  son  of  Louis  Philippe 
king  ;  but  he  declined,  and  Leopold  was  then  chosen. 
King  William,  of  Holland,  protested,  and  in  spite  of 
the  treaty,  held  the  city  of  Antwerp.  A  French  army 
was  sent  to  the  assistance  of  Leopold  ;  Antwerp  ca- 
pitulated, but  it  was  not  till  1839  that  Holland  made  a 
treaty  with  Belgium,  acknowledging  her  indepen- 
dence. Leopold  strengthened  his  position  by  marry- 
ing a  daughter  of  tlie  King  of  France  ;  and  his  son 
and  heir,  the  Duke  of  Brabant,  was  married  to  Marie, 
Archduchess  of  Austria. 

''In  1S4S,  when  Louis  Philippe  was  overthrown  in 
France,    some     disturbance     occurred,    and    Leopold 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    1 25 

offered  to  abdicate  ;  but  his  proposition  was  not  ac- 
cepted, and  he  wisely  and  skilfully  led  his  government 
through  all  the  troubles  of  that  excitable  period.  He 
is  a  wise  and  prudent  statesman,  and  as  such  has  had 
a  great  deal  of  influence  in  Europe. 

'"'•  Now,  young  gentlemen,  I  trust  you  will  not  be 
satisfied  with  this  meagre  sketch  of  the  interesting 
country  we  are  now  visiting,  but  will  read  up  the  sub- 
ject so  that  you  will  understand  it  better." 

Mr.  Mapps  left  his  position,  and  the  studies  of  the 
mornino^  were  commenced.  After  dinner  the  usual 
shore  liberty  was  given,  the  allowances  piud  m 
French  francs,  a  supply  of  which  had  been  procured 
in  London,  and  the  students  were  landed.  Instead  of 
going  on  shore  immediately,  Dr.  Winstock  and  Paul 
paid  a  visit  to  the  Victoria  and  Albert. 

At  the  gangway  they  found  the  steward  of  the  ship, 
who  volunteered  to  conduct  them  through  the  vessel. 
There  was  nothing  strikingly  peculiar  in  the  exterior 
of  the  yacht,  except  that  she  had  large,  square  win- 
dows, composed  of  a  single  pane  of  glass,  in  her  upper 
saloons  and  cabins  ;  but  the  steward  informed  the  vis- 
itors that  these  were  replaced  in  heavy  weather  by 
wooden  shutters,  having  only  the  small,  round  ports 
in  them. 

Betvveen  the  paddle-boxes  was  a  large  open  space, 
covered  over  by  the  hurricane  deck.  On  each  side, 
abaft  the  wheels,  was  a  small  apartment,  or  pavilion, 
with  large  glass  windows,  elegantly  cushioned  and 
furnished,  where  the  royal  passengers  could  sit  in 
rough  weather,  and  look  out  upon  the  sea.  On  the 
hurricane  deck  was  a  spacious  dining-saloon. 
II  * 


126  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

From  the  open  space  between  the  wheels,  the  stew- 
ard conducted  Dr.  Wuistock  and  Paul  to  a  passage- 
way, at  the  after  end  of  which  was  a  saloon  called 
the  breakfast-room.  Its  length  corresponded  with  the 
width  of  the  vessel,  and  one  side  was  round,  being 
formed  at  the  stern  of  the  vessel,  in  whicli  were  sev- 
eral of  the  large  square  windows,  so  that  the  apart- 
ment was  very  light  and  pleasant. 

On  each  side  of  the  passage-way  were  several  apart- 
ments, arranged  in  suits.  Returning  to  the  open  space 
amidships,  the  party  entered  the  forward  room  on  the 
starboard  side. 

"  This  is  the  room  of  the  first  lady  in  waiting,"  said 
the  steward,  as  they  went  in. 

"  I  should  say  the  first  lady  in  waiting  was  well 
accommodated,"  said  Paul,  laughing,  as  he  glanced  at 
the  spacious  apartment. 

"  But  she  may  be  a  countess,"  replied  the  steward, 
leading  the  way  to  the  next  room.  ''This  is  the 
queen's  bed-chamber." 

There  was  a  large  bed  in  this  room,  which  looked 
just  like  anybody's  bed  ;  but  it  was  by  no  means  so 
elegant  as  the  young  republican  had  anticipated. 
The  apartment  was  rich  and  costly  in  its  furnishings, 
but  there  was  none  of  the  magnificence  which  one 
would  have  expected  to  find  in  the  room  of  a  queen. 

"  This  is  the  dressing-room  of  Prince  Albert,"  added 
the  steward,  entering  the  next  room.  ''  Her  majesty 
allows  no  one  to  occupy  it  since  the  death  of  his 
highness." 

Beyond  this,  on  the  same  side,  were  shown  sev- 
eral rooms  appropriated  to  the  use  of  the  princesses. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.     I  27 

They  corresponded  in  .st\le  \\  ith  those  of  the  (j^ueen  ; 
hut  in  nothiiif^  connected  with  the  yacht  was  there  any 
gaudy  disphiy.  The  party  went  to  the  opposite  side, 
and  were  shown  several  rooms  like  those  tliey  had  just 
seen,  which  were  occupied  by  the  princes.  The  for- 
ward room  on  the  port  side  was  the  drawing-room. 
It  was  larger  than  any  other  except  the  breakfast-room, 
but  did  not  appear  to  be  extravagantly  furnished  ; 
everything  seemed  to  be  j^rovided  for  comfort  rather 
than  show. 

The  conductor  then  led  them  forward,  where,  on 
each  side  of  a  passage,  were  four  rooms,  each  provid- 
ed with  a  handsome,  narrow  bedstead,  which  the 
steward  said  were  for  the  use  of  the  lords  and  ladles 
in  waiting.  Forward  of  these,  in  the  bow  of  the  ves- 
sel, was  the  kitchen,  a  three-cornered  room  like  that 
on  the  Young  America,  with  a  large  galley  or  cook- 
ing-range in  the  middle. 

Below  the  royal  apartments,  in  the  after  part  of  the 
ship,  were  the  cabins  for  the  sei-vants.  As  the  steward 
led  his  guests  towards  the  gangway.  Dr.  Winstock 
took  out  his  purse. 

"  Never  mind  that  just  now,"  interposed  their  con- 
ductor,  "  es^oecially  as  there  is  the  captain." 

Paul  wondered  if  the  doctor  intended  to  insult  a 
person  of  so  much  consequence  as  the  steward  of  the 
queen's  yacht  must  be,  by  offering  him  money.  He 
glanced  at  the  captain,  who  was  a  fine-looking  man, 
in  naval  uniform,  as  the  steward  led  the  way  to  the 
accommodation  steps.  The  doctor  shly  slipped  a 
couple  of  English  shillings  into  the  man's  hand,  and 
they  went  down  into  their  boat. 


128  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

"  What  did  you  give  him,  sir?"  asked  Paul. 

"  Two  shilHng-s." 

"  Well,  it  seems  to  me  the  steward  of  any  American 
passenger  steamer  would  be  angry  if  you  gave  him 
two  shillings  for  his  services." 

"  If  I  had  not  met  these  men  before,  I  should  not 
have  dared  to  do  it ;  but  it  is  expected,"  replied  the 
doctor. 

The  boat  pulled  up  to  the  Qiiai  Vandyck,  and  Paul 
for  the  first  time  put  his  foot  upon  the  continent  of 
Europe. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    13^ 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

ANTWERP    AND    RUBENS. 

WHERE   shall   we  go   first,    Paul?"   asked    Dr. 
Winstock,  when  the}^  landed  upon  the  quay. 

"  I  don't  know,  sir  ;  I  think  I  shall  be  interested 
wherever  we  go.     This  is  a  big  city  —  isn't  it?  " 

"  Its  population  is  hardly  more  than  half  of  what 
it  was  in  the  days  of  its  greatest  prosperity.  In  the 
days  of  Charles  V.  it  is  said  that  twenty-five  hundred 
vessels  were  frequently  seen  at  one  time  in  the  river. 
It  had  two  hundred  thousand  inhabitants,  and  was 
then  the  richest  and  most  thriving  commercial  city  in 
Europe.  You  perceive  that  this  long  line  of  quays 
affords  plenty  of  wharf  room.  Indeed  the  name  of 
the  city  is  said  to  be  derived  from  a  Flemish  phrase, 
*  aen't  werf^  which  means  on  the  wharf,  or  on  the 
quay." 

"  Mr.  Motley  tells  another  story  about  its  name. 
He  says  the  people  claim  that  the  city  is  very  old,  and 
that  a  giant  by  the  name  of  Antigonus,  established 
himself  on  the  river  at  this  place,  and  set  up  a  kind 
of  custom-house.  He  required  half  the  merchandise 
of  those  who  went  up  the  river.  He  used  to  cut  off 
the  right  hands  of  those  who  attempted  to  smuggle, 
and  throw  them  into  the  river.     In  this  way  Ha?td 


iV>  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

werpen^  or  hand  throwing,  came  to  be  the   name  of 
the  phice,"  said  the  young  commander. 

"  I  suppose  that  story  is  as  true  now  as  it  ever  was. 
But  where  sliall  we  go?"  asked  the  doctor. 

"  I  want  to  get  a  httle  nearer  to  that  Cathedral," 
rephed  PauL 

"  That  is  really  the  most  noted  thing  in  Antwerp, 
and  we  will  walk  up  there  ;  and  I  think  we  shall  be 
able  to  see  the  pictures  on  the  churcli,  which  are 
required  to  produce  an  income.  The  Cathedral  used 
to  be  open  till  one  o'clock,  free  to  the  public,  but  the 
curtains  were  carefully  drawn  over  these  great  works 
of  art ;  after  this  hour  visitors  were  admitted  upon 
the  payment  of  one  franc,  and  the  pictures  were 
exhibited.  Doubtless  the  same  regulation  is  in 
force  now." 

A  walk  of  a  few  moments  brought  them  to  the 
Place  Verte,  a  little  park  enclosed,  with  a  colossal 
statue  of  Rubens  in  the  centre. 

"  Everything  in  Antwerp  is  Rubens,"  said  the  doc- 
tor. "  The  people  believe  in  him  still,  and  almost 
worship  his  memory." 

''Why  should  they?  He  was  only  a  great  painter 
—  was  he?  "  added  Paul. 

"  He  was  more  than  that :  he  was  quite  distin- 
guished as  a  statesman  and  a  diplomatist.  He  was 
ambassador  to  England,  Holland,  and  other  countries. 
His  celebrity  as  an  artist,  and  his  influence  with  the 
crowned  heads  of  several  nations,  caused  him  to  be 
regarded  with  deep  interest  b}^  the  people.  He  lived 
in  a  splendid  mansion,  for  the  immense  income  which 
he  derived  from  his  pencil  enabled  him  to  support  an 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    IIOLI.AND    AND    BELGIUM.    I3I 

elegant  establishment.  lie  had  a  great  number  of 
pupils,  and  at  one  period  in  his  career  they  painted 
no  inconsiderable  part  of  his  pictures.  He  had  orders 
from  all  the  crowned  heads  of  Europe,  and  in  many 
of  his  works  he  could  only  make  the  designs  and  give 
the  finishing  touches  to  them.  He  was  very  indus- 
trious, and  painted  rapidly,  as  he  must  have  done  to 
produce  so  many  pictures." 

"  He  humbug-o-ed  his  customers  then  —  didn't  he?" 

"  His  assistants  did  only  the  heavy  work,  while 
Rubens  furnished  the  design,  and  gave  the  work  its 
finishing  touches.  The  celebrated  sculptors  do  not 
perform  all  the  drudgery  of  chiselling  out  a  statue. 
Wherever  you  go  in  Antwerp,  you  will  hear  of 
Rubens.  You  will  find  his  works  in  all  the  galler- 
ies, you  will  visit  his  house  in  the  Rue  Rubens,  his 
pictures  will  be  shown  to  you  in  every  church,  and 
you  w^ill  see  his  tomb  in  St.  Jacques." 

"  They  have  Rubens  on  the  brain,  as  we  should  say 
at  home,"  laughed  Paul. 

"  Yes,  and  they  have  it  badly.  Fro'm  this  point  you 
have  a  good  view  of  the  Cathedral,"  added  the  doctor, 
as  they  paused  near  the  statue  of  Rubens,  wdiere  they 
could  see  the  building  over  the  tops  of  the  trees. 

"  The  steeple  is  very  handsome.  It  is  of  the  most 
beautiful  and  delicate  workmanship  you  will  see." 

"  I  should  think  it  would  blow  down." 

"  It  is  banded  together  with  a  framework  of  iron, 
and  the  stones  are  held  together  with  copper  bolts." 

"  How  high  is  it?"  asked  Paul,  as  he  gazed  up  at 
the  lofty  spire. 

"  There  you  have  me,  Paul !     I    don't   know.     In 


132  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 

Murray's  Guide-Book  it  is  set  down  at  four  hundred 
and  three  feet.  Tlie  man  up  in  the  tower  there  says 
it  is  four  hundred  and  sixty-six.  Other  authorities  put 
it  at  less  than  four  hundred.  My  guide  assured  me 
it  was  one  hundred  and  forty-seven  French  metres  in 
height ;  but  this,  reduced  to  Enghsh  measure,  would 
give  four  hundred  and  eighty-three  feet.  My  own 
idea  is,  that  Murray  is  right,"  replied  Dr.  Winstock, 
as  they  walked  over  to  the  church. 

"  What's  this?"  asked  Paul,  pointing  to  a  beautiful 
iron  canopy  in  Gothic  style,  near  the  foot  of  the 
church  tower. 

"  That's  a  draw-well.  It  is  the  handiwork  of 
Qiientin  Matsys." 

"  I  don't  know  him." 

"  lie  was  a  blacksmith  until  he  was  twenty  years 
old,  when  he  fell  in  love  with  the  fair  daughter  of  a 
painter.  The  story  goes  that  the  father  would  not 
permit  his  daughter  to  marry  any  man  that  was  not 
an  artist,  and  the  blacksmith  abandoned  his  anvil  for 
the  easel.  He  h'ad  a  genius  for  art,  and  soon  painted 
better  than  his  masters.  He  won  his  bride,  and 
achieved  a .  great  reputation  in  his  new  art.  The 
picture  of  The  Misers,  which  you  saw  at  Windsor 
Castle,  was  executed  by  him." 

They  bought  a  couple  of  tickets  and  were  admitted 
to  the  church.  The  interior  was  grand  and  imposing; 
but  the  chief  attraction  was  the  pictures,  which  were 
now  unveiled,  and  a  small  audience  was  present 
examining  them.  Several  artists  were  making  copies 
of  them  In  the  south  transept  hangs  Reubens's  ma* 
terpiece,  The  Descent  from  the  Cross. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    1 33 

Paul  did  not  pretend  to  be  a  connoisseur  in  paint- 
ings,  and  could  neither  understar^^  nor  appreciate  the 
fine  writing  he  read  about  them  ir:  bocks,  or  tlie  ''hif:\- 
lutin  "  which  affected  men  bestowed  upon  them  ;  but 
in  the  presence  of  the  grand  old  painting,  he  was 
awed  and  silenced.  It  produced  a  deep  impression 
upon  his  mind  and  heart,  and  for  the  first  time  in  his 
life  he  realized  the  sublime  in  art.  The  figure  of  Tiie 
Dead  Christ  seemed  to  be  real,  so  painfully  natural 
were  the  hanging  head  of  the  Savior,  and  the  relaxed 
muscles  of  the  body.  The  young  student  gazed  long 
and  earnestly  at  the  picture,  studying  it  as  a  whole 
and  in  detail. 

It  is  said  that  Rubens  paid  this  picture  as  the  price 
of  the  land  on  which  he  erected  his  house  in  Antwerp. 
In  the  north  transept  of  the  Cathedral  hangs  its  com- 
panion piece.  The  Elevation  of  the  Cross ;  but  its 
reputation  is  far  inferior  to  his  masterpiece,  grand  as 
it  is. 

Paul  walked  about  the  church,  and  examined  other 
pictures  and  works  of  art ;  and  then,  after  paying  the 
keeper  of  the  tower  a  franc,  they  commenced  the  long 
ascent  to  the  spire  and  chimes. 

"  These  churches  and  these  pictures  are  certainly 
very  fine,"  said  Paul,  as  they  stopped  at  a  window  to 
rest.  "  We  don't  have  them  in  our  country.  There 
isn't  a  church  there  that  will  compare  with  any  of 
these  cathedrals,  to  say  nothing  of  the  celebrated  pic- 
tures, such  as  we  have  just  seen." 

"  That's  very  true  ;  and  I  am  thankful  that  our  peo- 
ple make  a  better  use  of  their  money.      Here  in  Bel- 
gium, as  in   most  countries  of  Europe,  poverty  is  the 
12 


134  DIKES   AND    DITCHES,  OR 

curse  of  the  people.  They  do  not  receive  the  reward 
of  their  h^bor.  The  government  and  the  church  take 
the  hon's  share  of  their  earnings,  and  thus  keep  them 
down.  This  Cathedral  was  commenced  in  1352,  and 
finished  in  1411,  though  another  spire  was  to  have 
been  built.  Nearly  sixty  years  were  employed  in  its 
erection,  and  probably  it  cost  millions  of  dollars.  Of 
course  the  people  had  to  pay  for  it.  The  greater  por- 
tion of  the  expense  of  it  lies  dormant  here,  it  being 
merely  an  ornamental  structure.  It  gratifies  people's 
tastes,  it  is  true  ;  but  God  could  be  acceptably  wor- 
shipped in  a  less  costly  edifice.  If  the  capital  locked 
up  in  this  church  had  been  invested  in  schools,  col- 
leges, and  other  educational  institutions,  it  would  be 
a  blessing  to  the  country.  What  is  paid  in  Europe 
to  build  these  grand  structures  for  worship,  and  to 
support  the  trappings  of  royalty,  is  in  our  own  coun- 
try appropriated  to  public  schools ;  and  the  nation 
reaps  the  benefit  of  them  every  year  of  its  existence." 

"  That's  so,"  replied  Paul,  emphatically ;  ''  and 
when  any  foreigner  says  anything  to  me  again  about 
our  want  of  costly  cathedrals,  I  shall  call  his  atten- 
tion to  our  schools." 

"  That's  right ;  you  are  an  American  to  the  core," 
laughed  the  doctor. 

"  But  I  don't  see  any  reason  why  we  should  not 
have  as  great  painters  in  the  United  States  as  in 
Europe,"  added  Paul. 

"  I  do  see  the  reason.  Probably  we  have  just  as 
much  talent  for  art  in  our  nation,  but  the  people  find 
that  it  doesn't  pay  so  well  as  developing  the  resources 
of  a  new  country.     When  it  is  possible  in  America 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    I35 

or  a  man  to  win  the  wealth  and  distinction  whicli 
Rubens  won,  we  shall  be  as  successfid  in  art  as 
Europe  has  been;  for  Washington  AUston,  Benjamin 
West,  and  others  have  demonstrated  the  capacity  of  our 
people  in  this  direction.  The  encouragement  which 
artists  receive  makes  the  men.  There  are  not  many 
persons  in  our  country  who  are  willing  to  pay  ten, 
fifty,  or  a  hundred  thousand  dollars  for  a  picture.  So 
much  money  in  a  painting  is  dead  capital  among  an 
energetic  people  who  need  all  they  can  get  to  carry 
on  agricultural,  commercial,  and  manufacturing  enter- 
prises." 

"  Of  course  people  will  follow  that  calling  which 
pays  best,  either  in  money  or  in  reputation." 

*'  Certainly,  ^nd  the  number  of  Dutch  and  Flemish 
artists  assures  us  that  painting  has  been  a  cherished 
art  in  the  Low  Countries.  Vandyck  was  another 
celebrated  painter  of  this  country.  He  was  born  in 
Antwerp,  and  was  a  pupil  of  Rubens.  There  is  a 
story  that  The  Descent  from  the  Cross  was  thrown 
down  by  the  carelessness  of  a  student,  and  badly 
injured  by  the  M\.  Vandyck,  who  was  then  a  pupil 
of  the  great  Flemish  master,  inidertook  to  repair  the 
mischief  with  his  brush,  and  did  it  so  well  that 
Rubens  declared  the  work  was  superior  to  his  own. 
This  story  is  current  in  the  guide-books,  and  in  the 
mouths  of  the  commissionah'cs^  who  point  out  the 
places  on  the  face  of  the  Virgin  and  on  the  arm  of 
one  of  the  Marys  where  the  pupil  touched  it  up. 
But  there  is  no  truth  in  it,  since  the  picture  was  hung 
up  in  the  Cathedral  before  Vandyck  entered  the  stutlio 
of  Rubens." 


136  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 

"  I  suppose  these  people  like  to  tell  good  stories, 
whether  true  or  not." 

"  Yes  ;  and  you  will  find  a  man  up  in  this  steeple 
who  believes  that  his  spire  is  the  tallest  in  the 
world,"  added  Dr.  Winstock. 

They  continued  on  their  long  ascent  till  they 
reached  the  region  of  the  bells,  where  they  found  the 
attendant  who  glories  in  magnifying  the  wonders  of 
the  chimes  and  the  spire.  He  had  a  small  furnished 
apartment,  which  the  visitors  were  invited  to  enter, 
and  where  he  dispensed  refreshments,  of  which  no 
total  abstinence  man  could  partake.  The  doctor, 
knowing  what  the  man  had  to  say,  skilfully  turned 
his  attention  away  from  his  favorite  topic,  until  they 
were  sufficiently  refreshed  —  not  by  the  eaii  de  vie  and 
noyau^  but  by  the  rest  —  to  explore  the  bell  towers. 

The  bells  composing  the  chime  were  fixed  in  the 
lofts,  which  were  filled  with  wires,  cranks,  and  other 
machinery,  used  in  operating  them.  In  one  place 
there  was  a  bank  of  keys  like  those  of  an  organ, 
where  a  person  could  play  any  tune  he  pleased  upon 
the  bells.  The  keeper  had  a  history  to  relate  of  each 
bell,  many  of  which  were  contributed  by  kings, 
princes,  and  lords,  and  bore  their  names.  In  anoth- 
er tower  there  was  an  immense  bell,  at  the  baptism 
of  which  —  for  church  bells  are  duly  consecrated  in 
Catholic  countries  —  the  Emperor  Charles  V.  stood 
as  godfather.  It  requires  sixteen  men  to  ring  it ;  but 
its  peals  rouse  the  Antwerpers  only  on  great  occa- 
sions, such  as  a  visit  of  the  king. 

Dr.  Winstock  and  Paul  waited  among  the  chimes 
till  they  had  played   the  hourly  tune,  and  then  contin- 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IX    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    I37 

Lied  their  progress  to  the  heights  above.  The  custo- 
dian of  the  steeple  said  there  were  six  huntlred  and 
sixteen  steps  from  the  bottom  to  tiie  top,  and  a  person 
docs  not  care  to  make  the  'journey  more  than  once  in 
his  b'fetime.  The  winding  stairs  passed  close  to  the 
Gothic  openings  of  the  tower,  and  they  had  an  oppor- 
tunity closely  to  observe  the  delicate  workmanship  of 
the  structure,  which  Charles  V".  said  should  be  kept 
in  a  glass  case,  and  Xapoleon  compared  to  Mechlin 
lace. 

At  last,  out  of  breath,  they  reached  the  highest  point 
of  the  spire,  and  looked  far  down  upon  the  lofty  roof 
of  the  church.  The  buildings  of  the  city  looked  like 
card  houses,  and  a  comjDany  of  Belgian  soldiers,  march- 
ing in  the  streets,  appeared  like  the  pygmies  who  in- 
habited them.  In  the  distance  could  be  seen  the  towers 
of  Ghent,  Brussels,  Mechlin,  and  Flushing,  the  wan- 
dering Scheldt,  and  the  low  country  for  a  vast  dis- 
tance. The  magnificent  view,  and  the  information  it 
afforded,  amply  repaid  them  for  the  toil  of  ascending, 
and  Paul  made  the  Cathedral  the  subject  of  an  entire 
letter  to  ^Sliss  Grace  Arbuckle. 

It  was  easier  to  go  down  than  to  come  up,  and 
when  they  had  passed  out  into  the  Place  Verte,  the 
doctor  declared  that  he  must  lunch  before  he  walked 
any  farther.  The  Hotel  de  I'Europe  faced  the  Park, 
and  Paul  was  desirous  of  seeins:  the  interior  of  it. 
They  entered  through  an  archway,  there  being  no 
doors  on  the  street.  There  was  a  spacious  area,  or 
court-yard,  through  which  alone  the  house  could  be 
reached.  In  other  respects  the  establishment  was 
similar  to  those  in  the  United  States. 
12  * 


138  DIKES   AND    DITCHES,    OR 

On  the  continent,  as  in  England,  none  but  working 
people  take  breakfast  much  before  nine  o'clock,  and 
the  hour  varies  from  this  time  till  noon.  Of  late 
years  the  practice  in  American  hotels  corresponds 
with  that  of  European  ones.  In  the  dining-room  of 
the  Hotel  de  I'Europe  there  are  many  small  tables,  and 
one  or  two  long  ones,  the  latter  being  used  at  table 
d'hote,  which  is  served  at  five  o'clock.  A  hotel  bill  is 
added,  to  give  the  reader  an  idea  of  the  prices  :  — 

"HOTEL    DE    L'EUROPE. 
Place  Verte. 


Anvers. 
Note  a  M.  Smith, 

Aout  4. 

Chambre  No.  40, 
^  Poulet  et  Salade, 
I  The  Complet, 
Appartement, 

■^'                                         Fr.  Cen. 
3.00 

2.50 

Bougie, 

•           .50 

Service, 

1. 00 

5- 

I  Dejeune  et  Bifstek, 
I  Bifstek,  Pomme  de  ' 

Pour  Acquit, 

.       3.00 

Terre,    .         .         1.50 

13.00 
J.  \V.  Barber." 

"One  The  Complet"  consists  of  simply  tea  and 
bread  and  butter,  and  as  a  franc  is  about  twenty  cents, 
its  price  is  thirty  cents.  A  centime  is  the  iiundredth 
of  a  franc,  and  fifty  centimes  is  ten  cents.  If  the  guest 
adds  a  beefsteak  and  potatoes,  or  any  other  dish,  to  his 
meal,  it  just   doubles   the  cost.     The  ''  bougie "  is  a 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.     1 39 

candle,  wliich  is  charged  all  over  Europe,  at  from  a 
quarter  of  a  franc  up  to  a  franc.  Tiie  traveller  also 
pays  for  his  soap,  or  provides  it  himself.  When  an 
"old  stager"  pays  a  franc  for  a  candle,  or  a  piece  of 
soap,  he  rolls  the  part  unused  up  in  a  j^aper  and  puts 
it  into  his  trunk  ;  and,  if  at  his  next  stopping-place,  he 
linds  a  candle  in  his  room,  he  orders  ^he  waiter  to  re- 
move it,  and  will  not  submit  to  be  charged  for  it. 

Table  d'hote  is  a  more  formal  meal,  and  in  some 
large  hotels  much  parade  is  made  over  it.  The  bill 
of  fare  is  usually  very  meagre  compared  with  that  of 
the  Fifth  Avenue  Hotel  in  New  York,  and  every  dish 
in  the  programme  is  presented  to  the  guest.  The 
charge  for  this  meal,  at  first-class  houses  outside  of 
Paris,  is  usually  four  francs,  or  eighty  cents. 

Dr.  Winstock  and  Paul  took  a  seat  in  the  Salle  d 
manger.  The  student  was  principally  anxious  to 
know  what  they  had  to  eat,  and  in  what  manner  they 
served  it,  for  he  was  of  an  inquiring  mind,  and  fond  of 
making  comparisons.  The  most  common  lunch  con- 
sists of  cold  chicken  and  salad,  the  latter  being  simply 
lettuce  prepared  with  oil  and  vinegar.  Paul  was  dis- 
appointed, for  the  lunch  difTered  hardly  a  shade  from 
the  same  thing  at  home.  Even  the  gentlemanly  Bel- 
gian waiter,  dressed  in  seemly  black,  spoke  good  Eng- 
lish, and  the  "  demi-poulet"  was  wasted  upon  him. 

"  Where  shall  we  go  now,  Paul  ?  "  asked  the  doctor, 
as  they  left  the  dining-room. 

"  I  leave  that  to  you,  sir.  You  seem  to  be  quite  at 
home  here,"  replied  Paul. 

"We  will  take  a  carriage,  and  we  can  do  up  the 
city  in  a  few  hours." 


140  PIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

A  one-horse  barouche  was  called,  and  a  cojuinis- 
sionah'c  —  a  kind  of  guide  or  interpreter,  who  assists 
si  rangers  in  doinir  their  business,  or  in  seciu";  the 
sights  of  the  city  —  presented  himself  to  be  employed  ; 
but  Dr.  Winstock,  who  was  familiar  with  the  place, 
declined  his  services. 

"•  What  was  that  man  ?  "  asked  Paul,  as  the  carriage 
drove  off  to  the  Rue  des  Socurs  Noires,  where  the  Do- 
minican Church  of  St.  Paul  is  located. 

"  He  is  a  coininissloiiah'c^  interpreter,  or  valet  de 
■place.  Many  travellers  regard  such  men  as  swin- 
dlers ;  but  for  my  own  part  I  have  found  them  very 
useful.  When  I  first  visited  Antwerp  I  emplo3'ed  one. 
I  found  him  intelligent  and  gentlemanly,  and,  so  far 
as  I  could  judge,  not  disposed  to  swindle  me  himself 
or  to  let  others  do  so.  I  paid  him  five  francs  a  day, 
and  I  am  sure  he  saved  me  more  money  than  I  paid 
him,  besides  taking  me  in  the  easiest  and  most  con- 
venient way  to  the  various  points  in  the  city." 

"  I  should  think  such  men  would  be  very  necessary, 
especially  to  those  who  cannot  speak  the  language." 

"  In  Amsterdam  and  Rotterdam  I  should  have  been 
on  my  beam-ends  without  them.  I  never  could  im- 
acfine  where  thev  obtained  their  bad  name,  unless  it 
was  from  Englishmen,  who  are  generally  afraid  of 
being  cheated,  and  take  the  alarm  before  there  is  any 
real  danger." 

The  driver  stopped  before  the  Church  of  St.  Paul, 
and  the  passengers  alighted.  There  was  nothing 
worthy  of  note  in  the  church  ;  but  outside  of  it,  in  a 
kind  of  garden,  one  of  the  most  singular  and  remark- 
able  exhibitions   is  open  to  the  visitor.      It   is  called 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.     14I 

"  Calvary,"  and  is  a  representation  of  the  "  several 
stages,"  as  they  are  termed,  in  the  life  of  Christ.  Aii 
artificial  mound  is  raised  on  the  side  next  to  the  church 
edifice,  which  is  covered  with  a  kind  of  rock-worl^,  in 
imitation  of  jMount  Calvary.  In  various  parts  of  the 
area  are  jDlaced  the  statues  of  saints,  angels,  patriarchs, 
and  prophets. 

On  the  summit  of  the  mound  is  represented  the 
crucifixion,  with  a  figure  of  tlie  Savior  on  the  cross. 
At  the  foot  of  it  is  the  sepulchre,  which  is  claimed  to 
be  a  perfect  copy  of  tlie  Holy  Sepulchre  at  Jerusalem, 
thousfh  travellers  who  have  seen  it  sav  it  bears  no 
resemblance  whatever  to  the  original.  In  the  tomb, 
on  a  kind  of  shelf,  rests  the  crucified  Christ,  repre- 
sented by  a  figure  clothed  in  silk  and  muslin  ! 

Near  the  tomb  an  ideal  of  Purgatory  is  exhibited, 
consisting  of  W'ood  carvings.  The  making-up  of  the 
scene  appears  to  be  a  kind  of  cage,  like  those  one  sees 
in  a  menagerie,  with  bars  in  front  of  it  to  prevent  the 
escape  of  the  unhappy  mortals  temporarily  confined 
there.  Within  the  den  are  carved  and  painted  several 
figures  of  men,  in  the  midst  of  darting,  leaping  flames, 
upon  whose  faces  there  is  an  expression  of  intense 
anguish.  Doubtless  the  intention  of  those  who  con- 
ceived this  astounding  exhibition  was  to  impress  upon 
the  mind  of  the  spectator  the  suflferings  of  the  unre- 
pentant wdcked.  It  is  hardly  possible  that  this  eflecl 
could  ever  have  been  produced  upon  the  minds  of 
sensible  men.  The  spectacle  is  not  only  in  exceed- 
ingly bad  taste,  but  it  is  positively  repulsive,  not  to  say 
sacrilegious. 


142  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

Sucli  was  the  opinion  of  Paul  Kendall,  who  could 
hardly  conceal  his  disgust;  and  ten  minutes  in  the 
place  exhausted  his  patience.  He  was  silent,  so  deep 
was  his  feeling  of  dissatisfaction,  until  he  was  again 
seated  in  the  voiturc.  The  next  objects  of  interest 
were  the  docks  and  basins,  which  were  reached  after 
a  short  drive  from  St.  Paul's.  They  merely  passed 
a:long  the  quay,  making  no  stop,  as  the  works  could  be 
seen  from  the  carriage. 

"  That  is  the  house  of  the  Ilanseatic  League,"  said 
the  doctor,  pointing  to  a  large  ancient  building. 

"  What  is  the  Hanseatic  League?"  asked  Paul,  who 
had  never  even  heard  of  it. 

"  It  was  a  commercial  alliance  between  some  of  the 
cities  of  Germany  for  the  protection  and  development 
of  their  trade.  It  had  its  origin  in  the  thirteenth  cen- 
tury, for  the  purpose  of  preventing  piracy  and  ship- 
wreck, and  to  encourage  commerce,  and,  indeed,  all 
branches  of  industry.  It  established  great  warehouses 
or  factories  indifferent  parts  of  Europe,  and  became  an 
exceedingly  powerful  asssociation,  so  much  so  that  it 
dictated  the  policy  of  sovereigns  on  their  thrones,  and 
even  declared  and  carried  on  war  with  several  of  the 
powers  of  Europe.  In  the  fourteenth  century,  the 
League  defeated  the  King  of  Norway  and  Sweden.  It 
unseated  the  King  of  Sweden,  and  gave  his  crown  to 
another,  and  having  declared  war  against  Denmark, 
sent  a  fleet  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  ships,  and 
thousands  of  troops  to  carry  it  on.  In  fact,  the  asso- 
ciation prepared  for  war  with  England,  and  Edward 
IV.    made    important    concessions    to    avoid    it.       Of 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.     I43 

course  the  crowned  heads  were  jealous  of  its  power 
and  i!ifluence,  and  it  was  eventually  broken  up  ;  but  it 
laid  the  foundation  of  the  commercial  policy  of  the 
nations.  The  League  died  out  in  1630;  but  Ham- 
burg, Lubec,  and  Bremen  formed  a  new  one,  under 
the  name  of  the  Ilanse  Towns  ;  and  Frankfort-on-the- 
ISIain  afterwards  joined  them." 

"  I  have  heard  of  the  Hanse  Towns,"  added  Paul ; 
"  but  I  never  knew  what  the  term  meant  before." 

'^  The  docks  and  Inisins  here  are  mainly  tlie  work 
of  Napoleon.  The  great  conqueror  intended  to  make 
Antwerp  the  first  seaport  of  the  north.  The  mouth 
of  the  Thames  is  less  than  a  hundred  miles  from  the 
mouth  of  the  Scheldt,  and  he  knew  that,  with  a  naval 
station  equal  to  any  in  the  possession  of  England,  he 
could,  in  time  of  war,  cripple  or  destroy  the  commerce 
of  his  great  rival.  He  expended  ten  millions  of  dol- 
lars on  these  docks,  basins,  and  fortifications.  The 
English  were  alarmed,  and  in  1S09  sent  the  Walcheren 
expedition,  which  obtained  a  foothold  on  that  island, 
but  were  defeated  by  disease  and  death,  for  seven 
thousand  British  soldiers  perished  by  marsh  fever. 
By  the  peace  of  Paris  in  1S14,  after  the  battle  of 
Waterloo,  it  was  stipulated  that  the  dock-yards  should 
be  destroj'cd,  for  they  were  a  standing  threat  to  the 
maritime  powers  ;  but  these  basins  were  preserved  for 
commercial  purposes.  The  largest  one  will  accomodate 
thirty-four  ships  of  the  line." 

The  travellers  continued  on  their  way  through  some 
of  the  principal  streets  till  they  arrived  at  the  Church 
of  St.  Jacques,  which  is  richer  in  its  ornaments  than 
the  Cathedral,  containing  exquisitely  wrought  marb'es. 


144  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

carved  wood,  painted  glass.  This  magnificent  church 
contains  the  burial  vaults  of  the  noble  families  of  the 
city,  and  among  them  that  of  Rubens,  which  is 
marked  by  a  white  marble  tablet  with  a  long  in^ 
scription  upon  it,  embedded  in  the  pavement  of  his 
private  chapel.  The  Holy  Family,  which  forms  the 
altar-piece  of  the  church,  was  jDainted  by  the  great 
master.  In  1793,  when  the  mob,  incited  by  the 
furious  spirit  of  the  French  Revolution,  broke  into 
the  church,  pillaging  altars  and  tombs  alike,  that  of 
Rubens  was  spared  from  desecration  by  the  universal 
respect  for  his  memory,  though  not  another  tomb  in 
St.  Jacques  escaped  their  impious  touch. 

The  house  of  Rubens,  situated  in  a  street  of  the 
same  name,  was  visited ;  an  outside  view  of  the 
Bourse,  or  Exchange,  the  Hotel  de  Ville,  or  Town 
Hall,  and  of  other  public  buildings,  was  obtained. 
The  Citadel,  built  under  the  direction  of  the  cruel 
Duke  of  Alva,  to  overawe  the  rebellious  Antwerpers, 
was  an  object  of  interest.  After  the  expulsion  of 
the  Spaniards  in  1577,  the  people,  including  those 
of  high  and  low  degree,  men,  women,  and  children, 
assisted  in  its  demolition  ;  but  it  was  speedily  rebuilt, 
and  has  played  an  important  part  in  subsequent 
sieges  and  insurrections.  The  city  is  surrounded  by 
a  continuous  line  of  fortifications  and  ditches,  extend- 
ing from  a  point  on  the  riv^er  below  the  city  to 
a  jDoint  above  it ;  and  outside  of  this  line  there  are 
a  number  of  detached  forts  to  keep  a  hostile  force 
from  approaching  near  enough  to  the  city  to  shell  it. 

When  the  carriage  reached  the  Qiiai  Vandyck,  most 
of  the  students   had   returned,  and  the  boats  were  in 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.     I45 

waiting.  They  chattered  like  mag^pies  about  the  won- 
ders they  had  seen.  When  Captain  Kendall  went  on 
board,  the  mail-bag  was  handed  to  him,  and  the  boys 
were  eager  to  obtain  their  letters  from  home  and  else- 
where. 

"  A  letter  for  you,  Mr.  Hamblin,"  said  the  captain, 
as  he  handed  the  professor  a  formidable  envelope, 
postmarked  "  Anvers." 

The  learned   gentleman   seemed   to    be  astonished, 
and  bore  the  missive  to  his  state-room. 
13 


1S6  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 


CHAPTER    IX. 

TROUBLE    ON    BOARD    THE  JOSEPHINE. 

ALMOST  every  one  on  board  of  the  Josephine 
had  a  letter,  and  some  had  two  or  three.  Paul 
had  one  from  Grace,  dated  at  Paris,  in  which  she  ex- 
pressed a  hope  that,  as  she  was  to  travel  a  few  months 
with  her  flither,  she  might  see  him  in  some  of  her 
wanderings.  The  young  captain  hoped  so  too,  and 
he  read  the  letter  a  second  time.  Probably  he  read  it 
a  third  time  after  he  went  to  his  state-room,  and  a 
fourth  before  he  retired  ;  for  boys  of  his  age  are  apt 
to  be  enthusiastic  in  this  direction. 

Professor  Stoute  sat  in  the  cabin.  He  had  been  all 
over  Antwerp,  and  had  walked  a  larger  part  of  the 
distance  than  a  man  of  his  obesity  could  well  endure 
in  a  warm  day.  Though  he  was  very  tired,  he  was 
very  good-natured  ;  indeed,  thus  far,  nothing  had  ever 
occurred  to  disturb  his  equanimity.  He  was  exceed- 
ingly popular  with  the  boys,  and  if  he  had  fallen  over- 
board, every  one  of  them  would  have  jumped  in  after 
him.  No  one  ever  thought  of  disobeying  him,  and 
consequently  he  never  had  any  trouble. 

While  he  sat  there  fanning  himself  with  a  news- 
paper, Mr.  Hamblin  came  out  of  his  state-room  with 
the  huge  envelope  he  had  received  in  his  hand.     The 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    I47 

learned  gentleman  looked  perplexed  ;  in  fact,  he  al- 
ways wore  an  anxious  expression,  as  though  he  were 
in  constant  fear  that  somebody  would  infringe  upon 
his  dignity,  or  that  some  of  the  boys  did  not  believe 
he  was  the  wisest  man  since  the  days  of  Solomon. 
He  always  walked  just  so  ;  he  always  sat  just  so  ;  he 
always  moved  just  so.  He  never  was  guilty  of  using 
a  doubtful  expression.  He  was  stern,  rigid,  and  pre- 
cise, and  from  the  beginning  all  the  boys  had  disliked 
him  ;  but  since  he  had  behaved  so  unreasonably  in  the 
squall,  they  could  hardly  endure  him. 

The  lean  professor  walked  up  to  the  fat  professor, 
and  took  a  stand  before  him.  He  had  removed  the 
letter  from  the  formidable  envelope,  and  held  it  unfold- 
ed in  his  hand.  He  looked  at  the  letter,  and  then  at 
Mr.  Stoute.  The  fat  professor  laughed,  but  the  lean 
professor  frowned.  The  jolly  one  knew  just  what  the 
precise  one  wanted,  but  he  waited  patiently  for  the 
exordium. 

"Mr.  Stoute,  may  I  trouble  you?"  he  began,  after 
he  had  put  himself  in  proper  position. 

"  Certainly,  sir,"  replied  the  fat  gentleman. 

"  If  this  letter  had  been  written  in  Greek  or  Latin, 
I  could  have  read  it,"  continued  Mr.  Hamblin,  glan- 
cing at  the  sheet. 

"  Precisely  so  ;  if  it  had  been  written  in  Greek  or 
Latin  I  could  not  read  it,"  laughed  Mr.  Stoute. 

"  My  French,  as  I  have  had  occasion  to  acknowl- 
edge to  you  with  deep  humiliation,  has  been  neglected 
for  more  important  studies.  This  letter  appears  to 
have  been  written  by  some  distinguished  person,  but 
unfortunately  he  has  chosen  to  indite  it  in  French." 


1^8  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

"  In  a  word,  you  wish  me  to  read  it  to  you.' 
''  That  is  what  I  was  about  to  request  of  you.     Ma^ 
I  ask  you  to  retire  with  me  to  our  state-room?"  con- 
tinued Professor  Hamblin,  glancing  at  the  officers  who 
were  reading  their  letters  in  the  cabin. 

"  Excuse  me,  Mr.  Hamblin  ;  you  forget  that  I  carry 
round  with  me  two  hundred  and  odd  pounds  of  flesh, 
besides  bone  and  muscle,  and  that  I  have  been  on  my 
feet  three  hours.  I  think,  sir,  if  I  knew  this  vessel  was 
going  to  the  bottom  of  the  Scheldt  this  instant,  I 
should  go  down  with  her  rather  than  move.  Have 
me  excused,  I  pray  you,  and  have  compassion  on  mine 
infirmities,"  laughed  Mr.  Stoute. 

Mr.  Hamblin  was  vexed,  but  he  gave  the  letter  to 
his  associate,  who  turned  the  sheet  and  glanced  at  the 
signature. 

"  Ah  !  "  exclaimed  he,  looking  at  Mr.  Hamblin. 
"What  is  it?     Do  me  the  favor  to  read  it,"  replied 
the  learned  gentleman,  impatiently. 

"  It  is  from  Monsieur  Charles  Rogier,  the  president 
of  the  council,  and  minister  of  foreign  affairs,"  added 
Professor  Stoute.  "  He  is  the  man  who  organized  the 
revolution  of  1830,  and  the  greatest  man  in  Belgium, 
King  Leopold  excepted." 

"  Is  it  possible  !  "  ejaculated  Mr.  Hamblin,  strug- 
gling to  keep  down  the  smile  in  which  his  vanity 
sought  to  manifest  itself.     "  What  does  he  say?" 

"He  says  that  just  as  he  was  leaving  Antwerp  for 
Brussels,  he  heard  that  the  very  learned  and  distin- 
guished Professor  Hamblin  was  on  board  of  a  vessel 
at  anchor  in  the  river." 

"Does  he  say  that?"  asked  the  learned  gentleman, 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    1 49 

who,  knowing  that  Mr.  Stoiite  had  a  horrid  vein  of 
humor  running  through  his  fat  frame,  had,  perhaps, 
a  suspicion  that  he  was  making  fun  at  iiis  expense. 

"  That  is  precisely  what  it  says." 

"  How  should  Mr.  Rogier  know  me  ? "  queried 
Mr.  Hamblin. 

"  I  was  about  to  read  his  explanation  on  that  point : 
he  says  he  heard  of  you  tlirough  a  friend  who  was  in 
London  a  few  weeks  since.  He  wished  to  see  you 
and  extend  to  you  a  welcome  to  the  kingdom  of  Bel- 
gium ;  but  the  command  of  his  royal  master  required 
him  to  leave  Antwerp  by  the  next  train  ;  and  he  was 
deprived  of  the  pleasure  of  extending  to  you  in  per- 
son the  expression  of  his  distinguished  consideration. 
He  hopes  when  you  visit  Brussels  you  will  do  him 
tiie  honor  to  call  upon  him  at  the  Palais  de  la  Nation, 
Rue  de  la  Sole." 

"Humph!"  ejaculated  the  learned  professor,  pro- 
longing the  interjection,  and  trying  to  suppress  the 
smile  which  had  a  sad  tendency  to  overwhelm  his  dig- 
nity. 

"You  are  fortunate,  Mr.  Hamblin,"  added  Mr. 
Stoute  ;  "  of  course  he  will  present  you  to  King  Leo- 
pold." 

"Possibly,"  replied  the  Greek  sava?zf^  stroking  his 
chin,  and  frowning,  to  counteract  the  sinister  influence 
of  the  smile  he  could  not  wholly  overcome. 

Mr.  Hamblin  took  the  letter  and  read  the  signature. 
It  was  certainly  "  Charles  Rogier,"  with  a  flourish  ex- 
tensive enough  for  any  great  man.  From  the  letter 
he  glanced  at  the  fat  professor,  who,  being  always 
good-natiucd,  was  so  now.     He  could  not  get  rid  of  a 

13* 


x50  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

lingering  suspicion  that  his  undignified  associate  was 
imposing  upon  him.  It  was  a  great  misfortune  that 
his  own  knowledge  of  French  was  so  limited,  and  if 
it  had  not  been  so  late,  he  would  have  gone  on  board 
of  the  ship  to  ask  Professor  Badois  to  translate  the 
epistle  to  him. 

Instead  of  doing  this,  he  went  to  the  record  book 
of  the  Josephine,  and  ascertained  that  Duncan  was 
marked  among  the  highest  in  French.  Now  Duncan 
was  a  very  polite  and  respectful  student,  and  Mr. 
Hamblin  had  a  greater  regard  for  him  than  for  most 
of  his  companions.  Finding  this  promising  young 
man  on  deck,  he  invited  him  to  the  sacred  precincts 
of  the  professor's  state-room.  Duncan  was  even  more 
polite  and  obliging  than  usual.  At  the  request  of  his 
present  host,  who  did  not  offer  any  explanations,  he 
wrote  out  a  translation  of  the  important  letter.  Mr. 
Hamblin  thanked  him,  and  he  retired. 

There  was  no  material  difference  between  the  trans- 
lations of  Mr.  Stoute  and  Duncan,  and  the  learned 
professor  congratulated  himself  upon  the  distinction 
he  had  attained.  His  fame  as  a  savant  had  preceded 
him  across  the  ocean.  The  king's  chief  minister 
courted  his  acquaintance.  This  was  the  homage 
which  greatness  paid  to  learning,  and  Mr.  Hamblin 
was  willing  to  believe  that  it  was  a  deserved  tribute. 
He  soon  worked  himself  into  a  flutter  of  excitement, 
in  anticipation  of  being  taken  by  the  hand  by  the 
king's  chief  minister,  and  he  slept  but  little  during 
tiie  night,  so  absorbed  was  he  in  the  contemplation 
of  the  distinguished  honor  which  awaited  him. 

"  Professor  Hamblin  is  going  to  court,"  said  Dun- 


YOUNG    AMERICA    I\    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.     I5I 

can  to  his  old  friend  the  captain,  when  they  met  on 
deck  after  supper. 

"  To  court  whom  ?  "  laughed  Paul. 

"  He  has  had  an  invitation  to  go  to  court  to  see  the 
big  bugs.  I  translated  a  letter  for  him  from  the  min- 
ister of  foreign  affairs  ;  and  I  suppose  he's  about  the 
biggest  toad  in  the  Belgian  puddle,"  added  Duncan. 
"  You  won't  be  able  to  touch  him  with  a  ten-foot  pole 
after  that." 

"  We  shall  get  alongr  very  well  with  him,  if  we 
only  do  our  duty,"  said  Paul. 

"  The  fellows  are  not  very  fond  of  him  ;  and  if  he 
puts  on  any  more  airs,  they  won't  be  able  to  stand  it." 

"Why,  what's  the  matter,  Ben?"  asked  Paul,  anx- 
iously, for  generally  everything  had  gone  on  so  well 
on  board  of  the  Josephine,  that  he  dreaded  any 
trouble. 

"  O,  nothing,  nothing  !  "  laughed  Duncan  ;  "  only 
the  fellows  don't  like  him." 

"  Ben,  there's  something  up,"  said  Paul,  earnestl}'. 
"  If  the  fellows  think  anything:  at  all  of  me,  thev 
won't  make  any  trouble.  If  I  don't  complain  of  ^Ir. 
Hamblin,  they  needn't." 

"  I  don't  find  any  fault  with  him  myself,"  protested 
Ben.  "  I  don't  like  him,  but  I  have  always  got  along 
very  well  w^ith  him." 

"What  did  you  mean  by  mentioning-  this  matter  to 
me,  Ben?"  asked  Paul. 

"  Nothing ;  only  I  shouldn't  be  surprised  if  the  fel- 
lows were  to  haze  the  venerable  patriarch  a  little  in 
a  quiet  way.     They  are  all  down  upon  him." 

"  I  am  sorry  for  that.     I  hope  all  tlie  fellows  will 


152  DIKES   AND    DITCHES,  OR 

do  their  duty,  and  not  get  into  any  scrapes,  replied 
Paul,  very  seriously. 

"  I  am  sorry,  but  I  can't  say  that  I  blame  them 
much." 

"  I  shall  blame  them  if  they  commit  any  act  of 
disrespect,"  said  the  captain,  decidedly.  "  I  hope  you 
will  say  what  you  can  forward  to  keep  the  fellows 
from  doing  anything  that  would  hurt  Mr.  Hamblin's 
feelings." 

"  What  can  I  do?  The  old  fossil  doesn't  treat  the 
students  like  gentlemen  ;  and  if  he  behaves  so,  what 
can  you  expect  of  the  fellows?  He  is  cross,  crabbed, 
and  tyrannical." 

"  Have  they  just  found  it  out?" 

"  No,  but  they  were  willing  to  bear  it  rather  than 
make  any  trouble  on  board.  After  wliat  he  did  last 
Saturday,  they  are  not  disj^osed  to  be  so  patient  ;  and 
I  can't  blame  them  much." 

"  What  happened  last  Saturday  was  between  Mr. 
Hamblin  and  me,  and  the  students  needn't  trouble 
themselves  about  that." 

"  But  the  fallows  all  like  you  first  rate,  even  the 
worst  ones  we  have  on  board  ;  and  there  are  some 
pretty  hard  boys  here,"  laughed  Duncan. 

"  If  they  like  me,  they  will  not  get  up  a  row." 

"  I  will  take  care  that  all  of  them  know  just  how 
you  feel,"  said  Duncan,  concluding  to  end  the  con- 
versation at  this  point,  for  the  subject  of  these  re- 
marks had  just  come  on  deck. 

The  learned  gentleman  appeared  to  carry  his  head 
even  higher,  and  to  be  more  dignified,  stiff,  and  re- 
served, than  usual.     With  an  invitation  in  his  pocket 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.     1 53 

to  visit  the  greatest  statesman  in  Belgium,  he  felt  like 
a  very  exalted  personage  ;  for  not  even  Mr.  Lowing- 
ton  had  been  so  highly  favored.  Mr.  Hamblin  was 
puffed  up  and  swelled  out  by  the  honor  the  great  man 
had  done  him,  and  as  he  walked  up  and  down  the 
deck,  the  students  might  have  known  by  his  air,  if 
they  had  not  been  told  of  the  fact,  that  greatness  had 
suddenly  been  thrust  upon  him. 

It  presently  occurred  to  him  that  the  principal  had 
not  been  informed  of  the  distinguished  consideration 
in  which  the  government  of  Belgium  regarded  the 
Josephine's  senior  instructor.  It  was  important  that 
he  should  know  it,  for  the  fact  would  certainly  elevate 
him  In  the  estimation  of  the  principal,  and  cause  him 
to  regret  that  in  the  recent  difficulty  he  had  not  more 
fully  sustained  his  notable  professor.  Besides,  he 
wished  to  make  some  arrangements  which  would 
permit  him  to  visit  the  Palais  de  la  Nation,  and  to 
dine  with  the  minister,  if  he  should  be  invited,  as  he 
had  no  doubt  he  should  be. 

With  as  much  sternness  on  his  wrinkled  face  as  he 
could  assume,  he  walked  forward  to  demand  a  boat 
of  Captain  Kendall.  As  he  was  passing  in  the  waist, 
a  coil  of  signal  line  dropped  down  from  the  gaff 
above,  square  upon  the  top  of  his  hat,  forcing  it  far 
down  upon  his  head.  Mr.  Hamblin  immediately 
threw  himself  into  an  undignified  passion.  When  he 
had  with  some  difficulty  extricated  his  head  from  the 
linings  of  his  hat,  he  looked  up  to  sec  who  had  been 
guilty  of  this  act  of  flagrant  disrespect. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Mr.  Hamblin,"  shouted 
Grimme,  a  seaman,  whose  legs  were  twined  around 


154  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

the  end  of  the  gaff,  while  he  was  in  the  act  of  passing 
a  signal  halyard  through  an  eye. 

The  captain  had  received  orders  from  the  principal 
to  have  the  Josephine  ready  for  the  visit  of  a  distin- 
guished person  on  the  following  day,  and  Mr.  Cleats 
was  preparing  to  dress  the  rigging. 

"  You  scoundrel !  "  roared  Mr.  Hamblin,  gazing  up 
at  the  unfortunate  youth  who  had  been  the  cause  of 
his  misfortune. 

"Did  it  hurt  you,  sir?"  asked  Paul,  stepping  up  to 
the  professor. 

"  Was  that  done  by  your  order,  Mr.  Kendall  ?  "  de- 
manded the  irate  savant. 

"  No,  sir ;  it  was  not,"  replied  Paul,  blushing  with 
indignation  at  such  an  insinuation. 

"  It  is  very  singular  that  the  rope  should  fall  just  at 
the  moment  I  was  passing,"  added  Mr.  Hamblin,  sour- 
ly, as  he  straightened  out  his  crumpled  tile. 

"  I  am  sorry  it  occurred,  sir,"  said  Paul,  who  uttered 
no  more  than  the  literal  truth. 

Mr.  Hamblin  glanced  around  the  deck  at  the  stu- 
dents who  were  collected  there.  They  did  not  seem 
to  be  sorry  ;  on  the  contrary,  there  was  a  look  of  dia- 
bolical satisfaction  in  the  expression  of  most  of  them, 
and  not  a  few  were  actually  laughing. 

"  I  demand  the  immediate  punishment  of  the  offend- 
er," said  Mr.  Hamblin,  irritated  by  this  manifestation 
on  the  part  of  the  students. 

By  this  time  Grimme  had  descended  from  his  peril- 
ous perch,  having  completed  the  reeving  of  the  hal- 
yard. Without  a  moment's  delay,  he  hastened  to  the 
spot  where  the  angry  man  stood,  and  touched  his  cap 
with  the  utmost  deference. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.        1 55 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Mr.  Hamblin.  I  hope  you 
will  excuse  me,"  said  Grimme,  who  really  wore  a 
very  troubled  look. 

"  You  did  it  on  purpose,  you  scoundrel !  "  growled 
the  jorofessor,  savagely  ;  for  he  could  not  fail  to  see 
the  ill-suppressed  chuckling  of  the  students  in  the 
waist. 

"No,  sir!  I  did  not,  sir!"  protested  Grimme.  "  I 
had  the  end  in  my  mouth,  and  was  just  going  to  drop 
the  coil  when  I  saw  you." 

"  And  you  did  drop  it  when  you  saw  me." 

"  I  did  not  mean  to  drop  it  then.  I  was  going  to 
wait  till  you  had  passed  ;  but  my  foot  slipped,  and,  in 
catching  hold  of  the  gatf  with  my  hand,  I  let  go  the 
coil.  If  I  hadn't  dropped  it,  I  should  have  fallen  my- 
self," replied  Grimme,  who  seemed  determined  to 
make  the  explanation  strong  enough  to  meet  the 
emergency. 

"  I  don't  believe  a  word  of  it !  You  meant  to  in- 
Bult  me  ! "  exclaimed  Mr.  Hamblin,  still  goaded  on  to 
intemperate  speech  by  the  ill-concealed  jeers  of  the 
students.  "  Mr.  Kendall,  it  is  your  duty  to  punish 
that  insolent  fellow." 

"  I  will  inquire  into  the  matter,  sir.  If  it  appears 
that  he  did  the  act  on  purpose,  he  shall  certainly  be 
punished,"  replied  Paul,  who,  after  his  conversation 
with  Duncan,  could  not  help  suspecting  that  this  was 
the  first  step  in  the  hazing  process  to  which  his  friend 
had  alluded. 

"  Inquire  into  it !  "  sneered  Mr.  Hamblin,  with  deep 
disgust.     "  I  complain  of  the  boy  :   that  is  enough." 

Paul  did  not  think  so  ;  but  he  made  no  reply  to  the 


ic6  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

angry  man.  though  he  ordered  the  alleged  culprit  to 
the  mainmast,  which  is  the  locality  of  the  high  court 
on  shipboard. 

"  Mr.  Kendall,  I  desire  to  have  the  gig,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  visiting  the  ship." 

"  The  gig,  sir  !  "  exclaimed  Paul,  to  whom  the  pro- 
fessors were  not  in  the  habit  of  designating  which  boat 
they  would  have. 

"  I  said  the  gig,  sir,"  repeated  Mr.  Hamblin,  loftily. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir  ;  but  the  gig  is  the  captain's 
boat,"  replied  Paul,  with  deference. 

"  The  captain's  boat !  "  pufled  the  professor. 

"  Mr.  Lowington  directed  me  to  use  the  first  cutter 
for  the  professors,"  added  Paul. 

"  Am  I  to  understand  that  you   again  refuse  me  a 

boat?" 

"  No,  sir  ;  by  no  means,"  said  the  captain,  ready  to 
weep  with  vexation  at  these  disagreeable  incidents. 

He  turned  from  Mr.  Hamblin,  and  directed  the 
first  lieutenant  to  pipe  away  the  first  cutters;  and 
in  a  few  moments  the  boat  was  ready.  The  fourth 
lieutenant  was  sent  in  charge  of  the  cutter.  The  pro- 
fessor went  over  the  side  into  the  boat ;  and  as  he 
made  no  objections,  the  officers  concluded  that  he  did 
not  know  the  diflerence  between  the  gig  and  the  first 
cutter.  At  certain  stages  of  the  tide,  there  is  a  three- 
mile  current  in  the  Scheldt,  with  strong  eddies,  formed 
by  the  sweep  of  the  river.  By  a  miscalculation  of  the 
coxswain,  the  cutter  fell  astern  of  the  ship,  and  had  to 
pull  up  to  her,  which  prolonged  the  passage  somewhat, 
thereby  increasing  the  ill  nature  and  impatience  of  Mr. 
Hamblin. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.        157 

"  In  bows !  "  said  the  coxswain,  as  the  boat  a|> 
proached  tlie  sliip  ;  and  the  two  bowmen  tossed  tlieir 
oars  and  boated  theni,  taking  position  in  the  bow- 
grating,  with  the  boat-hooks  in  their  hands. 

"  Way  enough  !  "  added  the  coxswain  ;  and  the  rest 
of  the  crew  tossed  their  oars. 

At  the  gangway  of  the  ship  stairs  had  been  rigged, 
at  the  foot  of  which  tliere  was  a  phitform,  for  the  con- 
venience of  those  boarding  or  leaving  the  ship  by  the 
boats.  The  bowmen  fastened  their  boat-hooks  upon  the 
phitform,  in  readiness  to  haul  the  boat  alongside,  so 
that  the  passenger  could  step  out  without  inconvenience. 
But  the  current  was  strong,  and  some  delay  ensued. 

"  There  !  let  me  get  out !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Hamblin, 
rising  in  the  boat,  and  walking  between  the  oarsmen 
to  the  bow. 

"  Steady,  sir  !  "  s-aid  Humphreys,  the  officer,  as  he 
took  the  arm  of  the  professor,  to  prevent  him  from 
falling. 

"  Pull  the  boat  up,  so  I  can  step  out !  "  said  Mr. 
Hamblin,  impatiently,  to  the  bowmen. 

They  were  hauling  her  up  closer  to  the  platform, 
against  the  strong  current,  which,  being  in  a  direction 
contrary  to  the  wind,  made  considerable  sea,  causing 
the  boat  to  roll  and  jerk  uneasily.  When  she  was 
within  a  couple  of  feet  of  the  platform,  the  professor 
attem^^ted  to  step  out. 

"  Steady,  sir  !  "  said  Morgan,  one  of  the  bowmen, 
as  Mr.  Hamblin  was  about  to  take  the  step  ;  but  at 
that  instant  the  boat  receded  from  the  platform,  and 
the  learned  gentleman,  with  one  foot  on  the  plank  and 
the  other  on  the  bow  of  tiie  boat,  made  a  very  long 


158  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

straddle,  toppled  over  into  the  water,  and  disappeared 
in  the  eddies. 

"  My  boat-hook  broke  !  "  protested  Morgan,  holding 
lip  the  implement,  from  which  the  iron  had  drawn 
out ;  and  after  what  had  occurred  on  board  of  the  con- 
sort, he  probably  deemed  it  necessary  to  make  an  im- 
mediate defence. 

"Man  overboard!"  shouted  several  students  in  tlie 
ship  ;  and  immediately  there  was  an  immense  commo- 
tion on  board  of  lier. 

Mr.  Hamblin  rose  to  the  surface  an  instant  later, 
and  shouted  for  help.  The  accident  was  observed 
from  the  Josephine,  and  the  gig  piped  away  in  double 
quick  time. 

"  Up  oars  !  Let  fall !  Give  way  !  "  shouted  Rob- 
inson, in  the  first  cutter,  as  she  drifted  away  from  the 
o^angway  of  the  ship,  without  waiting  for  the  orders 
to  be  repeated  by  the  coxswain. 

A  few  vigorous  strokes  of  the  oars  brought  the  cut- 
ter to  the  spot  where  the  professor  was  struggling  with 
the  dirty  current.  The  bowmen  seized  him  by  the 
collar,  and  the  crew,  after  no  little  labor,  owing  to  the 
excitement  of  the  unfortunate  gentleman,  succeeded 
in  getting  him  into  the  boat.  He  was  placed  in  the 
stern  sheets,  and  Robinson  afforded  him  such  assistance 
as  the  circumstances  would  permit. 

The  gig,  with  Paul  and  Pelham  on  board,  was  dart- 
insf  through  the  current  towards  the  first  cutter.  It 
was  too  late  to  be  of  any  service  ;  but  it  continued  on 
its  way,  and  the  captain  manifested  his  interest  and 
sympathy  as  well  as  he  could.  Mr.  Hamblin  pressed 
the  water  from  his  hair,  wiped  his  face  with  his  wet 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM,     I59 

handkerchief,  aiul  otherwise  endeavored  to  remove  the 
etTects  of  his  invohnitary  bath.  He  seemed  to  be,  thus 
far,  no  worse  for  the  disaster  ;  but  he  directed  Robin- 
son to  retmn  directly  to  the  Josephine,  for  obvious 
reasons. 

The  two  boats  came  alongside  together  ;  and  this 
time  the  professor,  notwithstanding  the  discomfort  of 
his  condition,  made  no  undue  haste  to  leave  tb.e  cutter 
before  she  was  properly  secured. 

"  I  am  very  sorry  indeed  for  your  misfortune,  sir," 
said  Paul,  politely,  when  he  met  ]Mr.  Hamblin  on  deck. 

"  Perhaps  you  are!  "  replied  he,  rushing  down  the 
cabin  stairs,  bestowing  hardly  a  glance  upon  the  sym- 
pathizing commander. 

He  went  to  his  state-room,  and  made  an  entire 
change  of  his  clothing.  The  weather  was  warm,  and 
he  suffered  no  serious  consequences. 

"  You  are  a  very  unfortunate  person,  Mr.  Hamblin," 
said  his  associate  instructor,  when  the  savant^  clean 
and  dry,  emerged  from  the  state-room. 

"  It  was  done  on  purpose,  Mr.  Stoute,"  replied  he, 
solemnly,  with  compressed  lips. 

"  O,  no  !  It  couldn't  be  I  "  protested  the  fat  pro- 
fessor. "  You  are  simply  unfortunate.  First,  a  coil 
of  rope  falls  on  your  head,  and  then  }ou  fall  over- 
board.    You  should  be  careful." 

"■  Has  that  student  been  punished  for  throwing  the 
rope  upon  me  ?  " 

"  No,  sir.  I  stood  by  during-  the  investigfation  at 
the  mainmast.  It  could  not  be  proved  that  the  act 
was  done  on  purpose  ;  and,  for  my  part,  I  did  not  be- 
lieve it  w^as." 


l6o  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

"  I  am  very  confident  it  was.  I  can  read  the  ex- 
pression on  the  faces  of  the  boys  ;  and  I  am  certain 
there  is  a  conspiracy  among  tliem  to  knock  out  my 
brains  or  drown  me  in  the  river." 

"  Boys  will  be  boys,  and  they  are  very  prone  to  look 
at  the  ludicrous  aspect  of  an  accident,"  added  the  stout 
professor.  "  I  should  not  give  a  serious  interpretation 
to  any  little  signs  of  mirth  I  happened  to  see." 

"  Mr.  Stoute,  you  allow  yourself  to  be  hoodwinked, 
deceived,  overwhelmed,  by  these  artful  boys.  You 
should  maintain  more  dignity  in  your  intercourse  with 
them." 

"  There  is  a  true  and  a  false  dignity,  Mr.  Hamblin. 
I  shall  endeavor  to  avoid  the  one,  and  cling  to  the 
other,"  replied  Mr.  Stoute,  warmly,  but  good-naturedly. 

"  You  are  aware  that  I  asked  for  the  gig  before  I 
started  for  the  ship?"  continued  Mr.  Hamblin,  im- 
pressively. 

"  I  am  ;  and  I  was  also  aware  that  the  first  cutter 
had  been  appropriated  to  the  use  of  the  instructors." 

"  I  demanded  the  gig.  It  was  refused.  What  did 
that  mean  ?  " 

"  It  meant  just  what  the  captain  said  —  that  the 
principal  required  him  to  furnish  the  first  cutter  for 
our  use." 

"  That  is  not  what  it  meant,"  persisted  Mr.  Ham- 
blin. ''  The  crew  of  the  first  cutter  had  been  instruct- 
ed to  tip  me  into  the  river.  When  I  called  for  the  gig, 
it  deranged  the  plan.  I  am  only  sorry  that  I  did  not 
refuse  to  take  the  cutter,  and  insist  upon  having  the 
gig;  but  I  do  not  wish  to  make  trouble." 
*  "  But  why  did  you  ask  for  the  gig?" 


YOUNG    AiMEKICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.     l6l 

"  Because  I  saw  Morgan,  who,  I  knew,  belonged  in 
the  cutter,  hiughing  when  the  rope  fell  on  my  head. 
He  would  as  lief  drown  me  as  not." 

"  I  think  you  misjudge  the  boys." 

"  I  am  surprised  that  one  v/ho  has  been  a  teacher  as 
long  as  you  have  does  not  understand  boys  any  better," 
replied  Mr.  Hamblin,  coldly.  "  I  am  satisfied  that 
Kendall  is  at  the  bottom  of  all  tliis  mischief." 

"  I  am  very  sure  he  is  not,"  said  Mr.  Stoute,  de- 
cidedly. 

''  The  crew  of  the  cutter  had  been  prepared  for 
their  work." 

It  was  surprising  that  two  men  who  had  been  among 
boys  so  long  took  such  opposite  views  of  tliem  ;  but 
the  difterence  of  opinion  was  more  in  the  men  than  in 
the  boys. 

These  events  were  the  staple  of  conversation  on 
deck  and  in  the  steerage  among  the  crew  ;  and  some  of 
the  better  boys  heard  certain  indefinite  remarks  about 
''  the  first  step  "  and  "  the  second  step,"  used  by  "  our 
fellows  ; "  but  no  real  friend  of  law  and  order  discov- 
ered anything  which  threw  any  new  light  upon  the 
two  misfortunes  that  had  overtaken  the  senior  profess- 
or, though  there  was  a  suspicion  that  these  were  the 
first  and  second  steps  hinted  at  by  the  doubtful  ones- 
14* 


1 62  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 


CHAPTER  X. 

WHO    WAS    CAPTAIN    OF    THE    JOSEPHINE? 

MR.  HAMBLIN,  as  before  intimated,  did  not 
sleep  well  on  the  night  in  question.  The  bur- 
den of  being  called  to  the  state  department,  and  even 
to  the  royal  palaces  of  Belgium,  was  very  trying  to 
his  nerves.  When  he  slept,  it  was  only  to  dream  of 
the  great  statesman  and  revolutionary  leader  of  ihe 
Low  Countries,  in  the  act  of  taking  him  by  the  hand 
or  of  presenting  him  to  his  majesty  Leopold,  "  Roi  de 
Beige." 

He  prepared  himself  with  great  care,  in  his  reflec- 
tions, for  the  stupendous  occasion.  He  studied  up 
courtly  bows,  and  imagined  just  how  he  would  look 
when  in  the  act  of  making  one  of  them.  He  pictured 
to  himself  various  graceful  gestures  which  he  intended 
to  use,  in  order  to  impress  upon  the  great  man  the 
dignity  of  his  character.  He  arranged  the  little 
tableau  of  his  presentation  to  the  king,  with  all  the 
speeches,  interludes,  and  movements.  If  the  king 
said  certain  things,  he  should  say  certain  other  things 
in  reply  ;  and  when  the  interview  ended,  he  was  with 
becoming  grace  to  back  out  of  the  royal  presence. 

Leopold,  ''  Roi  de  Beige,"  w^ould  probably  inform 
him  that  he  had,  either  directly  or  through  his  faithful 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    1 63 

minister,  heard  of  the  distinguished  Greek  savant; 
that  he  had  seen  or  heard  of  the  Greek  Grammar  he 
had  pubhshed,  the  Greek  Reader  he  had  compiled, 
and  the  Anabasis  he  had  edited  and  annotated.  It 
was  more  than  probable  that  there  were  copies  of 
these  learned  and  valuable  works  in  the  Royal  Libra- 
ry ;  for  no  library  could  be  complete  without  them.  If 
they  were  there,  the  king  would  graciously  inform 
him  of  the  fact,  as  the  highest  compliment  that  could 
be  paid  to  his  fame  as  a  Greek  scholar.  To  all  this, 
with  his  left  hand  upon  his  heart,  with  his  right  ex- 
tended, palm  prone,  at  an  angle  of  forty-five  degrees 
with  his  perpendicular,  his  body  bent  in  a  courteous 
but  dignified  bow,  he  was  to  reply  that  his  majesty 
did  him  too  much  honor.  It  would  be  necessary  to 
deprecate,  in  some  degree,  the  distinguished  considera- 
tion awarded  to  him,  and  to  declare  his  own  unw^orthi- 
ness  of  the  king's  notice  and  favor. 

Then,  perhaps,  the  royal  Leopold  would  present 
him  a  snufl-box,  studded  with  pearls,  diamonds,  and 
rubies,  —  monarchs  have  a  habit  of  presenting  snufl- 
boxes  to  men  who  do  not  take  snuft',  —  in  token  of 
his  princely  appreciation  of  the  learning  of  the  dis- 
tinguished American  professor.  Or,  perhaps,  "  Le 
Roi  de  Beige "  would  inform  him  that  he  desired 
to  promote  the  study  of  the  Greek  language  and  litera- 
ture in  his  kingdom,  and  that  he  was  graciously  pleased 
to  appoint  him  Inspector  of  Greek,  or  Librarian  of  the 
Greek  portion  of  the  Royal  Library,  with  no  active 
duty  but  that  of  collecting  his  salary  of  twenty  thous- 
and francs  —  liberal  princes,  as  rich  as  Leopold  was 
reD'i'^efl    to   be,    often    spent    their    money   more   fool- 


164  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

ishly  than    this,  in   rewarding   distinguished    men  of 
learning. 

The  learned  gentleman  did  not  feel  a  very  strong 
confidence  that  the  king  would  thus  reward  his  forty 
years'  patient  study  of  the  Greek  ;  but  if  he  should 
conclude  to  behave  in  this  rather  erratic  but  highly 
honorable  manner,  it  would  give  him  a  pleasant  op- 
portunity of  waiting  upon  Mr.  Lowington  in  his 
cabin,  and  politely  informing  him  that  he  could  no 
longer  endure  the  insults  of  the  Josephines,  or  counte- 
nance their  want  of  appreciation  of  the  privilege  of 
having  such  a  professor  of  Greek  as  he  was  ;  and  that 
he  felt  compelled  to  resign  his  present  position,  in  or- 
der that  "  Le  Roi  de  Beige"  might  avail  himself  of 
his  valuable  services. 

It  would  be  delightful  to  make  such  a  call  upon  the 
principal  of  the  academy  squadron.  It  would  be  a 
grand  occasion  for  a  display  of  dignity.  He  did  not 
feel  that  such  a  pleasant  event  was  likely  to  occur ; 
but  it  was  not  impossible.  The  fame  of  his  Gram- 
mar and  other  works  might  have  come  over  the 
Atlantic  while  he  was  transplanting  Greek  roots  in 
the  hard  heads  of  stupid  boys.  He  felt  that  he  de- 
served some  higher  token  of  public  appreciation  than 
had  yet  been  bestowed  upon  him.  Why  should  the 
Secretary  of  Foreign  Aflairs  send  an  autograph  letter 
to  him,  unless  some  especial  notice  was  to  be  taken 
of  him? 

An  audible  voice  seemed  to  say,  "  Go  up  higher, 
friend  ; "  but,  alas  !  that  was  only  the  snoring  of  Pro- 
fessor Stoute,  in  the  berth  above  him,  which  his  fancy 
had  .'iicorporated  into  words.     Thi.Me  was  no  voice  — 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    1 65 

only  the  guttural  sounds  of  his  obese  room-mate,  who 
was  so  tired  that  he  breathed  with  unwonted  labor  in 
his  sleep.  There  was  no  poetry  in  the  snoring  of  his 
companion,  and  the  vision  was  rudely  dissolved  by  the 
reality.  But  the  invitation  to  go  to  court  was  in  his 
pocket :  he  could  not  be  cheated  out  of  that,  or  of  his 
brilliant  expectations.  Leopold  might  do  the  hand- 
some thing,  at  least  as  to  the  snuff-box.  It  was  rather 
awkw^ard,  in  view  of  the  approaching  interview,  that 
he  could  not  speak  French  ;  but  the  king  had  lived  in 
London  for  a  time,  and  doubtless  spoke  English  flu- 
ently. Of  course  the  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs  could 
speak  English  ;  but  even  if  he  did  not,  they  could  meet 
on  the  same  level  in  Latin  or  Greek. 

Professor  Hamblin  did  not  sleep  very  well ;  and  he 
did  not  sleep  any  better  because  Mr.  Stoute  slept  so 
well,  and  made  the  state-room  sonorous  with  the  rich- 
est base  snoring  that  ever  tormented  a  nervous  man. 
Indeed,  the  heavy  sleeper  made  it  so  lively  for  the 
light  sleeper  that  the  latter  was  two  or  three  times 
goaded  to  the  alternative  of  waking  the  former,  or 
abandoning  the  room. 

In  the  course  of  the  night  the  learned  professor  had 
polished  up  all  his  little  speeches  to  be  recited  before 
the  minister,  and  probably  before  the  king ;  had  nicely 
adjusted  all  his  bows  and  gestures,  and  laid  up  a  maga- 
zine of  expedients  for  possible  emergencies,  such  as 
the  presence  of  the  Duke  of  Brabant,  Prince  Leopold, 
and  even  of  "  La  Reine  de  Beige  ;  "  but  the  dreamer 
was  glad  when  the  morning  came  ;  for  the  night  had 
been  very  long,  though  he  had  probably  slept  three 
quarters  of  the  time  ;   gladder  still  when  he  heard  the 


1 66 


DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 


water  splashing  on  the  deck  above  him,  as  the  watch 
washed  down  the  quarter-deck,  for  now  he  could  get 
up.  He  did  get  up,  and  went  out  to  taste  the  freshness 
of  the  early  air. 

The  young  seamen  had  finished  their  labor  on 
the  quarters,  and  were  at  work  in  the  waist.  A 
kind  of  force-pump,  or  fire-engine,  was  attached  to 
the  Josephine,  to  save  labor  in  washing  down  the 
decks,  and  to  be  used  in  case  of  fire  below.  It  was 
provided  with  a  sufficient  length  of  hose  to  reach  all 
parts  of  the  vessel,  and  was  worked  by  a  single  brake, 
manned  by  four  hands.  With  this  apparatus  the  boys 
were  deluging  the  decks  with  water,  one  of  them 
holding  the  pipe,  and  half  a  dozen  scrubbing  the 
planks  with  long-handled  brushes. 

A  fire-engine,  or  indeed  anything  that  will  squirt, 
is  a  great  luxury  to  the  boys,  with  whom  "  running 
with  the  machine  "  is  a  constitutional  tendency.  The 
novelty  of  the  Josephine's  force-pump  had  not  yet 
worn  away,  and  it  contributed  in  no  small  degree  to 
alleviate  the  hard  and  ungentlemanly  labor  of  washing 
down  decks. 

Mr.  Hamblin  was  not  a  boy,  and  he  had  a  constitu- 
tional dislike  of  fire-engines  and  all  hydraulic  appa- 
ratus, partly,  perhaps,  because  the  boys  liked  it.  The 
quarter-deck  was  still  wet  with  the  drenching  it  had  re- 
ceived, and  the  professor  did  not  like  to  dampen  his  feet 
on  the  one  hand,  or  retreat  to  the  close  cabin  on  the 
other.  He  did  what  x\mericans  are  very  apt  to  do 
when  situated  between  the  two  horns  of  a  dilemma  — 
he  compromised  between  the  difficulties  by  seating  him- 
self on  the  fife-rail  between  a  couple  of  belaying-pins. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    167 

He  was  careful  to  place  himself  abaft  the  mainmast,  so 
that  the  wicked  engine  would  not  spatter  him. 

He  sat  on  the  fife-rail  and  began  to  think  of  the 
kins  and  the  minister  again  ;  but  his  reflections  this 
time  were  very  brief,  and  if  his  fancy  burned  again 
with  glowing  anticipation,  the  flame  was  suddenly 
quenched  by  a  stream  of  water  directed  at  the  foot  of 
the  mast,  which  spattered  his  lower  extremities  very 
badly. 

"What  are  you  about,  you  rascal?"  roared  the 
learned  gentleman,  springing  from  his  perch  to  the 
deck. 

But  it  would  have  been  better  for  him  to  remain 
where  he  was,  for  the  instant  his  feet  struck  the  deck, 
the  full  force  of  the  stream  from  the  hose-pipe  saluted 
him  squarely  in  the  face,  filling  his  mouth  with  water, 
and  well  nigh  overthrowing  him  with  its  violence.  This 
was  a  sad  accident.  McDougal,  one  of  the  quarter- 
masters, held  the  pipe.  At  the  moment  the  professor 
sprang  from  the  fife-rail,  the  hoseman  was  looking 
behind  him,  his  attention  having  been  called  away 
from  his  work  by  a  remark  of  one  of  the  hands  at  the 
brake. 

"What  do  you  mean,  you  rascal?  "  sputtered  Mr. 
Hamblin,  attempting  to  free  his  mouth  of  the  dirty 
Scheldt  water  which  had  been  forced  into  it. 

"  That's  number  three,"  whispered  one  of  the  brake- 
men  to  another. 

"  Hush  up  !  "  replied  the  one  addressed,  from  the 
corner  of  his  mouth. 

McDougal  dropped  the  hose,  and  rushed  aft  to  the 
place  where  the  unhappy  savant  stood. 


1 68  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

"  You  impertinent  puppy  ! "  cried  Mr.  Hamblin, 
soiling  his  white  handkerchief  with  the  foul  water 
upon  his  face. 

"  O,  dear  !  What  have  I  done  !  "  groaned  McDougal, 
chisping  his  hands  in  an  agony  of  dismay.  "  I 
beg  your  pardon  !  I  didn't  see  you,  sir.  O,  what 
have  I  done  !  "  And  the  wretched  hoseman  actually 
threw  himself  on  his  knees  upon  the  wet  deck,  and 
implored  the  forgiveness  of  the  injured  magnate  of  the 
school-room. 

"You  meant  to  do  it !"  exclaimed  the  implacable 
pedagogue. 

"  No,  sir  !  Indeed,  I  did  not !  Won't  you  forgive 
me?"  pleaded  McDougal,  still  upon  his  knees. 

"What  does  all  this  mean?"  demanded  Pelham, 
who  was  officer  of  the  deck,  as  he  rushed  to  the  spot 
from  the  topgallant  forecastle,  where  he  had  gone  to 
keep  out  of  the  way  of  the  splashing  waters. 

"  O,  Mr.  Pelham,"  groaned  the  hoseman,  "  I  am  so 
sorry  !  " 

"  Get  up  !  "  said  Pelham  to  the  culprit,  sternly,  for 
anything  like  servility  was  very  disgusting  to  him,  and 
probably  he  had  his  own  views  in  regard  to  Mr. 
Hamblin. 

McDougal  obeyed  this  imperative  command,  and 
though,  ordinarily,  a  young  man  of  nerve  and  of  much 
self-possession,  he  appeared  to  be  trembling  with 
apprehension.  His  lips  quivered,  his  knees  smote 
against  each  other,  and  he  stood  wringing  his  hands, 
apparently  in  the  most  abject  terror. 

"I  didn't  mean  to  do  it,  Mr.  Pelham,"  chattered  the 
miserable  hoseman. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    1 69 

*' Air.  Pelham,  in  my  opinion  this  act  was  deliber- 
ately contrived  and  carried  out,"  said  Mr.  Haniblin, 
severely,  though  he  was  evidently  somewhat  moved 
by  the  misery  of  the  culprit. 

"I  am  very  sorry  for  it,  sir,  whether  it  was  done  on 
purpose  or  by  accident,"  replied  Pelham.  ••  Where 
were  you,  sir,  when  it  happened?" 

'*"  I  was  sitting  on  that  frame,"  answered  Mr.  Ham' 
blin,  pointing  to  the  place. 

"On  the  fife-rail?" 

"  Yes  ;  if  that  is  the  name  of  the  frame." 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  and  he  was  behind  the  mast,  and  I  didn't 
see  him,"  pleaded  McDougal.  "  I  saw  some  dirt  on 
deck  at  the  foot  of  the  mast,  and  I  threw  the  stream 
there.  I  couldn't  see  ]Mr.  Hamblin  —  indeed  I  couldn't, 
sir." 

"  I  would  not  complain  of  the  act  if  that  had  been 
all,  for  I  was  simply  spattered  ;  but  when  I  stepped 
down,  the  stream  was  directed  full  into  my  face." 

"  I  didn't  mean  to  do  it,  sir.  One  of  the  brake- 
men  hollered  to  me,  and  I  turned  to  see  what  he  want- 
ed, and  when  I  did  so,  I  raised  :ip  the  hose  ;  and  I 
suppose  that's  what  made  the  stream  hit  Mr.  Hamblin 
in  the  face,"  groaned  McDougal. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  interposed  the  brakeman,  who  had  des- 
ignated the  act  as  "  number  three."  ''  I  saw  Mr. 
Hamblin,  and  I  sung  out  to  McDougal  to  turn  the 
hose.  He  turned  round  and  asked  me  what  I  said, 
and  before  I  could  answer  Mr.  Hamblin  cried  out  to 
him." 

"  So  far  as  I  can  see,  it  appears  to  be  an  accident, 

15 


lyO  PIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

sir,"  added  Pelham  ;  "  but  1  will  report  it  to  the  cap- 
tain." 

"  O,  Mr.  Pelham,  don't  report  me  to  the  captain  !  " 
begfored  McDougfal.  "  He  will  send  me  back  to  the 
ship.     I  didn't  mean  to  do  it ;   it  was  an  accident." 

*'  It  is  useless  to  report  it  to  the  captain,"  said  the 
professor,  with  a  palpable  sneer. 

"  Thank  you,  sir  ;  you  will  forgive  me,  sir?  "  moaned 
the  culprit. 

"  I  am  willing  to  forgive  you  if  it  was  an  accident," 
replied  the  savant^  more  graciously. 

"  It  was  an  accident,  sir." 

"  It  is  very  singular  that  so  many  accidents  happen 
to  me,"  said  tlie  professor,  knitting  his  brow,  and  look- 
ing very  savage,  when  he  recalled  the  events  of  the 
preceding  evening.  "  This  is  the  third  time  within 
half  a  day  that  an  accident  has  occurred  to  me." 

Mr.  Hamblin  walked  off,  and  descended  to  the  cabin 
to  change  his  clothes  again.  The  suit  in  which  he 
had  fidlen  overboard  had  been  dried  at  the  cook's  gal- 
ley, and  was  in  condition  for  use.  While  changing 
his  garments,  he  recited  to  Mr.  Stoute  the  new  mis- 
fortune that  had  overtaken  him. 

Pelham  sharply  questioned  the  hands  who  had  been 
concerned  in  the  outrage  ;  but  McDougal,  who  ap- 
peared to  be  the  only  one  implicated  in  the  tieed,  pro- 
tested that  the  circumstances  were  just  as  he  had  stated 
them  ;  nothing  could  be  proved,  for  the  boys  all  agreed 
in  their  statements.  The  case  was  therefore  dismissed, 
to  be  called  up  again  by  the  captain,  if  he  thought 
proper  to  do  so  McDougal  walked  forward  to  pick 
up  the  hose-pipe  again,  and  as  he   met  the  brakeman 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IX    IIUI.LAXU    AND    BELGIUM.     I^l 

who  had  exhibited  sonic  intelli*,^encc  before,  he  gave 
him  a  very  sly  wink. 

The  officer  of  the  watch  was  more  tlian  suspicious. 
He  was  an  old  hand  at  mischief  himself,  and  not  easi- 
ly hoodwinked  by  "  our  fellows."  He  could  not  help 
thinking  that  McDougal  had  overdone  his  part,  for  a 
bold  young  man,  like  him,  would  not  behave  so  much 
like  a  coward  under  any  circumstances.  Just  before 
breakfast  time  the  captain  and  first  lieutenant  came  on 
deck  together,  and  Pelham  reported  "  number  three" 
to  them. 

"  It  was  not  an  accident,"  exclaimed  Paul,  indig- 
nantlv. 

"  I  don't  think  it  was  myself,"  replied  Pelham. 
"  But  at  the  same  time,  what  can  you  do?  You  can't 
prove  that  it  was  done  on  purpose." 

"  I  had  a  hint  from  Duncan  that  the  fellows  in- 
tended to  haze  Mr.  Hamblin,  and  if  this  thing  isn't 
stopped  in  the  beginning,  there  is  no  knowing  where 
it  will  end,"  continued  Paul,  decidedly.  "  You  will 
pipe  to  muster  the  first  thing  after  breakfast,  Mr.  Ter- 

rill." 

The  young  commander  was  entirely  satisfied  in  his 
own  mind  that  the  unpleasant  incident  of  the  morn- 
ing w^-is  a  part  of  the  hazing  programme,  if  the  two 
on  the  preceding  evening  were  not.  He  had  already 
decided  to  take  prompt  action,  and  put  a  stop  to  the 
disgraceful  proceedings. 

After  breakfast,  agreeably  to  the  order,  all  hands 
were  piped  to  muster.  The  two  professors  had  come 
on  deck  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  this  movement. 
They  had  had  a  long  talk  together  about  the  second 


172  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

drenching  of  the  senior,  and  Mr.  Stoute  was  obliged  to 
conchide  that  the  deed  had  been  wilfully  done.  lie 
acknowledged  as  much  as  this,  and  felt,  as  the  captain 
did,  that  prompt  action  was  necessary  ;  but  to  his  sur- 
prise, Mr.  Ilamblin  took  ojDposite  ground  towards  the 
latter  part  of  the  interview,  and  declared  that  McDou- 
gal,  on  his  knees,  had  begged  his  pardon.  The  learn- 
ed gentleman  appeared  to  be  determined  to  keep  his 
opinion  at  variance  with  that  of  his  associate. 

Mr.  Ilamblin  was  one  of  those  old  fogies  who  could 
not  appreciate  manliness  in  a  boy.  He  demanded 
abject  servility  and  pusillanimous  crouching  on  the 
part  of  an  offender.  When  he  frowned,  the  boy 
ought  to  wither  with  fear  rather  than  with  the  con- 
sciousness of  guilt.  IMcDougal  had  thrown  himself 
into  a  becoming  attitude,  in  his  estimation  ;  had 
groaned,  trembled,  and  cringed.  He  was  willing  to 
forgive  McDougal,  and  had  intimated  as  much  as  this 
to  him  before  he  left  the  deck. 

The  young  commander  took  his  place  on  the  hatch, 
and  made  quite  a  telling  speech  in  regard  to  what  he 
termed  the  disgraceful  proceeding  which  had  occurred 
on  board.  He  solemnly  warned  the  boys  that  he 
would  not  tolerate  anything  irregular  and  disorderly. 

"  Mr.  Terrill,  you  will  pipe  away  the  second  cut- 
ters," he  continued,  turning  to  the  first  lieutenant. 

The  crew  of  the  boat  were  piped  away,  the  cutter 
lowered,  and  they  took  their  places  in  her.  The  sec- 
ond lieutenant  was  detailed  to  take  charge  of  her,  and 
waited  near  the  captain  for  his  orders. 

"  Pass  the  word  for  McDougal,"  added  the  captain, 
when  the  second  cutter  was  ready,  as  he  stepped  down 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND   AND    BELGIUM.     1 73 

from   the   hatch,  and   stood   at   the   foot  of  the   mahi- 
mast. 

The  culprit  came  forward,  and  touched  his  cap  to 
the  captain. 

"  For  your  conduct  this  morning  to  Mr.  Ilambhn  I 
shall  send  you  on  board  of  the  ship,"  said  Paul,  in 
firm  and  decided  tones. 

'^  I  couldn't  help  it,  Captain  Kendall,"  pleaded 
McDougal  ;  but  he  exhibited  none  of  the  servility 
which  had  characterized  his  demeanor  to  the  profess- 
or ;  he  knew  the  captain  too  well  to  resort  to  such 
an  expedient. 

"  Perhaps  you  could  not,"  replied  Paul,  pointedly. 
*'  Perhaps  you  could  not ;  but  you  were  very  care- 
less." 

"I  didn't  mean  to  do  it,"  added  McDougal. 
"  I  do  not  say  that  you  did.     If  the  professor  cannot 
walk  the  deck  without  being  drenched  with  water,  it 
is  time  those  who  are  so  careless  should  be  sent  out 
of  the  Josephine." 

"  Mr.  Hamblin  was  behind  the  mast,  and  I  thought 
he  had  gone  below,  sir." 

"  I  have  no  time  nor  inclination  to  argue  the  matter. 
If  you  think  any  injustice  has  been  done  to  you,  the 
principal  will  hear  your  complaint,  and  I  shall  be  as 
willing  as  you  are  to  abide  by  his  decision.  Mr.  Mar- 
tyn,  you  will  report  the  case  as  it  is  to  Mr.  Lowington. 
McDougal,  consider  yourself  under  arrest,  and  take 
your  place  in  the  boat." 

The  culprit  wanted  to  say  something  more,  but 
Paul  ordered  him  into  the  boat  with  an  emphasis 
which  he  did  not  deem  it  prudent  to  disregard. 


I74  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

"  Captain  Kendall,"  said  Professor  Hamblin,  step- 
ping up  to  the  young  coniniander,  "  I  request  that  you 
will  detain  that  boat  for  a  moment  or  two." 

"  Certainly,  sir,  if  you  desire  it,"  replied  Paul,  giv- 
ing the  necessary  order. 

"  May  I  ask  for  a  few  moments'  private  conversa- 
tion with  you?"  added  the  professor,  as  he  led  the 
way  aft. 

The  learned  gentleman  seemed  to  be  considerably 
excited,  and  conducted  the  captain  to  the  taflrail. 

"  I  protest  against  your  action  in  this  matter,"  said 
he,  warmly,  when  they  were  out  of  hearing  of  others. 

"  Indeed,  sir  !  I  sup^oosed  you  would  protest  if  T 
did  not  take  decided  action." 

"  I  am  sorry  to  feel  obliged  to  say,  that  you  do  not 
use  good  judgment  in  this  case,"  continued  Mr.  Ham- 
blin, solemnly.  "  When  that  rope  was  thrown  upon 
me,  you  took  no  notice  of  it.  I  do  not  hear  that  the 
crew  of  the  first  cutter  have  been  called  to  account 
for  their  carelessness  in  throwing  me  into  the  water 
last  night;  but,  in  this  instance,  where  the  guilty 
party  has  begged  my  jDardon  on  his  bended  knees, 
and  shown  a  d^.g^ree  of  sorrow  which  it  would  be  in- 
human  to  disregard,  30U  resort  to  the  severest  punish- 
ment known  on  board." 

"  You  will  excuse  me,  Mr.  Hamblin,  but  I  think 
my  action  is  fully  justified  by  the  circumstances." 

"  I  think  not.  You  are  extremely  severe  in  this 
case,  while  the  more  flagrant  act  of  throwing  me  into 
the  river,  whether  it  was  a  wilful  or  a  careless  one, 
was  passed  over  in  silence." 

"  It  was  not  passed  over  in  silence.     I  examined 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.     1 75 

the  officer  of  the  boat,  and  I  found  that  the  accident 
was  caused  by  tlie  breaking  of  a  boat-hook  in  the 
hands  of  one  of  the  bowmen.  If  you  will  pardon 
me  for  being  entirely  candid  with  you,  ]Mr.  Ilamblin, 
the  mishap  was  caused  by  your  own  carelessness, 
rather  than  by  that  of  the  boat's  crew." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  insult  me?  "  demand  the  profess- 
or, angrily. 

"  Most  assuredly  not,  sir.  If  }'ou  had  kept  your 
seat  in  the  stern-sheets  of  the  boat,  as  a  passenger 
should,  until  the  cutter  was  properly  seci'.red,  you 
could  not  possibly  have  fallen  overboard  when  the 
boat-hook  broke,"  answ^ered  Paul,  gently  and  firmly. 

"  I  do  not  ask  your  judgment  upon  my  actions,  Mr. 
Kendall,"  growled  the  j^rofessor. 

"  Excuse  me,  sir  ;  but  I  alluded  to  your  movement 
only  in  defence  of  the  boat's  crew.  If  the  bowmen 
had  actually  intended  to  throw  you  into  the  water, 
they  could  not  have  done  it  if  you  had  kept  your 
seat." 

"  It  is  not  proper  for  you  to  criticise  my  action." 

Paul  bowed,  and  made  no  reply. 

"  I  protest  against  your  action  in  punishing  ]McDou- 
gal.  He  apologized  to  my  satisfaction  ;  and,  as  this 
is  an  affair  personal  with  me,  I  am  surprised  at  your 
taking  any  step  without  consulting  me." 

"  It  is  a  case  which  affects  the  discipline  of  the 
vessel ;  and,  as  such,  it  was  proper  that  I  should  dis- 
pose of  it." 

"  It  was  a  personal  matter,  I  say,"  repeated  the 
professor,  growing  more  wrathy  when  he  found  his 
mighty  will   opposed. 


176  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

"I  have  such  information,  sir,  as  leads  me  to  be 
lieve  that  the  act  of  this  morning  was  intentional." 

"That's  a  want  of  jutlgment  on  your  part,  and  I 
protest  against  your  action.  I  object  to  your  sending 
McDougal  to  the  ship,  and  I  demand  that  your  order 
be  rescinded." 

"  I  shall  send  him  to  the  ship,  sir !  "  replied  Paul, 
decidedly,  his  cheek  coloring. 

"  Shall  you  !     Do  you  mean  to  insult  me?" 

"  No,  sir ;  I  repeat  that  I  do  not  mean  to  insult 
you." 

"  I  say  that  boy  ought  not  to  be  sent  to  the  ship. 
Why,  such  a  lack  of  judgment — " 

"  Mr.  Hamblin,  I  command  this  vessel !  "  exclaimed 
Paul,  with  native  dignity. 

"  Do  you,  indeed?" 

"  I  am  responsible  for  all  I  do  to  Mr.  Lowington. 
You  will  oblige  me  by  not  interfering  with  the  disci- 
pline of  the  crew." 

"How  dare  you  use  such  language  to  me?" 
snapped  the  professor,  dancing  about  the  deck  with 
rage. 

"  Mr.  Terrill,  direct  Mr.  Martyn  to  pull  to  the  ship, 
and  execute  my  order  as  I  gave  it." 

"  This  is  infamous  !  "  stormed  Mr.  Hamblin.  "Am 
I  to  be  snubbed  by  a  boy,  by  one  of  my  own  pupils?  " 

"  I  have  nothing  more  to  say,  Mr.  Hamblin,"  con- 
tinued Paul,  bowing  and  moving  away. 

"  Stop,  you  puppy  !  "  roared  Mr.  Hamblin,  follow^ 
ing  him,  and  speaking  loud  enough  for  all  the  officers 
to  hear  his  offensive  remark. 

"  Come,  come,  Mr.  Hamblin,  you  are  disgracing 
yourself,"  interposed  Mr.  Stoute. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.     1 7/ 

"  The  puppy  !  "  gasped  Mr.  Ilamblin.  ''  He  insult- 
ed me  !  " 

"Don't  lower  yourself  in  the  eyes  of  your  pupils  by 
such  undignified  conduct." 

"  Am  I  to  be  insulted  by  a  boy  ?  "  replied  Mr.  Ham- 
blin,  breaking  away  from  his  associate. 

"  Mr.  Terrill,  send  Mr.  Cleats  and  Mr.  Gage  aft," 
said  Captain  Kendall,  hardly  able  to  speak,  so  violent 
were  his  emotions. 

"Mr.  Kendall  —  " 

"  Captain  Kendall,  if  you  please,"  interposed  Paul, 
as  the  professor,  boiling  over  with  rage,  rushed  up  to 
him. 

"  Mister  Kendall,  I  will  —  " 

"  One  word,  Mr.  Hamblin,  before  you  proceed  any 
farther,"  continued  Paul,  struggling  to  be  calm. 

"  Here,  sir,"  reported  the  adult  carpenter  and  boat- 
swain. 

"  Stand  by  ;  I  may  want  you,"  replied  Captain  Ken- 
dall. "Mr.  Hamblin,"  he  proceeded,  turning  to  the 
furious  professor,  "  if  you  venture  to  call  me  a  puppy 
again,  or  to  use  any  other  offensive  epithet,  I  will 
order  the  carpenter  and  boatswain  to  arrest  you.  I 
will  send  you  in  irons  on  board  the  ship.  I  beg  to 
remind  you  again  that  I  am  the  captain  of  this 
vessel." 

Mr.  Hamblin  glanced  at  him,  and  then  at  the  stal- 
wart forward  officers,  w  ho,  he  knew,  would  obey  the 
captain  if  the  Josephine  went  down  with  them  in  the 
act.  If  he  did  not  feel  that  he  had  done  wrong,  he  felt 
that  he  could  do  nothing  more.  Professor  Stoute  again 
interposed  his  good  offices,  and  Mr.  Hamblin  defeated 


iy8  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 

—  by  himself  rather  than  the  captain  —  bolted  from 
the  group,  and  rushed  down  into  the  cabin. 

The  entire  ship's  company  had  crowded  aft  to  wit- 
ness this  exciting  scene. 

"  Three  cheers  for  Captain  Kendall !  "  shouted  a 
daring  fellow.     "  One  !  " 

They  were  given,  in  spite  of  Paul's  cry  for  "  silence,'* 
and  then  the  crew  scattered.  The  young  commander 
looked  very  pale,  and  went  below  attended  by  Terrill, 
who  had  noticed  his  ghastly  expression.  He  retired 
to  his  state-room,  and  but  for  his  friend's  eflbrts  would 
have  fainted  away,  so  terribly  had  he  suffered  during 
the  painful  scene. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    1 79 


CHAPTER   XI. 

ON    THE    WAY    TO    GHENT. 

YOU  have  made  a  very  great  mistake,  Mr.  Ham- 
blin,"  said  Professor  Stoute,  when  they  readied 
their  state-room. 

"  Do  you  take  part  witli  the  students,  Mr.  Stoute?" 
snapped  the  angry  savant. 

The  o-ood-natured  instructor  concluded  that  it  would 
be  useless  for  him  to  say  anything  while  his  associate 
continued  in   such   an   unhappy  frame  of  mind  ;  and 
he  condemned  himself  to  silence  for  the  present.     It 
was  plain  enough  to  him  that  the   crew  of  the  Jose- 
phine were  in  a  state  of  mutiny,  so  far  as  Mr.  Ham- 
blin  was  concerned,  and  that  the  academic  discipline 
of  the  vessel  was  at   an   end.     If  he    understood   the 
humor  of  the  boys,  they  would  refuse  to  obey  the  pro- 
fessor of  Greek.     There  must  be  a  settlement  of  this 
serious  difficulty  before  anything  more  could  be  done- 
Mr.  Hamblin  was  silent  also  for  a  time.     It  would 
have  been  curious  to  know  what  he  thought  of  him- 
self at  that  particular  moment,   though   doubtless  he 
fully  justified  his  conduct  and  regarded  himself  as  an 
injured  man.     A  gentleman  so  profoundly  skilled  in 
Greek  as  he  was,  with  an  invitation  in  his  pocket  to 
visit  the  king's   chief  minister,   ought   not  to    be   ex- 


l8o  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 

pected  to  submit  to  the  snubbing  of  a  mere  boy. 
The  two  professors  sat  in  the  state-room  till  the 
silence  became  painful,  and  till  the  anger  of  Mr. 
Ilamblin  had  in  a  measure  subsided. 

"  I  did  not  expect  to  see  you  take  part  with  the 
boys,  Mr.  Stoute,"  said  the  learned  gentleman,  in  a 
grieved  tone. 

"  If  I  take  any  part  at  all,  I  hope  it  will  be  on  the 
right  side,"  replied  Mr.  Stoute. 

"  Which  means,  I  suppose,  that  I  am  on  the  wrong 
side,"  replied  Mr.  Hamblin,  with  a  heavy  sigh. 

"  It  means  exactly  that,"  added  the  other,  candidly. 

"  You  think,  then,  that  the  boys  have  done  pre- 
cisely right  —  do  you  ?  " 

"  Without  saying  that,  I  am  compelled  to  believe 
you  were  in  the  wrong." 

"  That  boy  threatened  to  arrest  me,"  continued  Mr. 
Hamblin,  with  something  like  a  shudder ;  "  and  all 
the  crew  gave  three  cheers  for  Captain  Kendall !  " 

"  I  could  hardly  resist  the  temptation  to  join  with 
them  in  giving  the  cheers,"  replied  Mr.  Stoute,  con- 
solingly. "  The  conduct  of  Captain  Kendall  filled 
me  with  admiration." 

"  Mr.  Stoute,  do  you  consider  that  a  proper  remark 
to  make  to  me  ?  " 

"  You  will  not  understand  anything  but  the  plainest 
speech,  and  I  intend  to  be  perfectly  candid  with  you. 
You  interfered  with  the  discipline  of  the  vessel,  and 
because  the  captain  respectfully  declined  to  recall  the 
boat,  you  threw  yourself  into  a  passion,  and  behaved 
in  a  most  ungentlemanly  and  undignified  manner. 
Positively,  sir,  I  am  ashamed  of  you  !  You  called  the 
captain  a  puppy?  sir  !  " 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    l8l 

"  He's  only  a  boy,"  answered  Mr.  Ilaniblin,  in 
whom  this  phiin  talk  seemed  to  create  a  doubt  in 
resrard  to  his  conduct. 

"  Any  boy  has  the  right  to  be  treated  like  a  gentle- 
man when  he  behaves  like  one,  even  if  his  opinion 
does  not  agree  with  our  own  ;  and  especially  is  this 
true  of  the  captain." 

"  He  was  utterly  lacking  in  judgment.  The  con- 
duct of  McDougal  was  a  personal  matter,  and  Air. 
Kendall  should  have  consulted  me." 

"Allowing  that  the  captain  was  wrong,  —  though  I 
do  not  think  that  he  was  wrong,  —  it  does  not  improve 
the  aspect  of  your  conduct." 

"  You  think  Mr.  Lowington  will  not  sustain  me  — 
do  you  ?  " 

"  Certainly  not." 

"  I  could  hardly  expect  it,  since  he  has  a  much 
higher  regard  for  that  boy  than  for  me,"  sighed  Mr. 
Hamblin. 

"  It  is  eight  o'clock,  and  time  for  the  recitations  to 
commence,"  said  Mr.  Stoute,  consulting  his  watch. 
"  You  must  decide  at  once  what  you  intend  to  do." 

"What  shall  I  do?"  asked  Mr.  Hamblin,  who  had 
become  fully  conscious  that  he  had  involved  himself 
in  another  "  unpleasantness,"  and  that  the  powers 
that  be,  unmindful  of  his  claims,  would  probably 
decide  against  him. 

"Shall  we  hear  the  recitations?  Are  you  willing 
to  go  into  the  steerage,  and  proceed  with  your 
classes?" 

"I  am." 

Mr.  Stoute  had  his  doubts  wdiether  it  would  be  pru 
i6 


1 82  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

dent  for  him  to  do  so  ;  but  he  was  satisfied  that  Cap 
tain   Kendall   could    control    the    crew,   even    if  they 
attempted  a  demonstration  against  the  unpopular  in- 
structor. 

"  If  I  had  made  so  great  a  blunder  as  you  have, 
Mr.  Hamblin,"  added  Professor  Stoute,  "  I  should  go 
to  the  captain,  and  apologize  to  him." 

"  Apologize  to  him  !  "  exclaimed  the  savant. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  To  that  boy,  who  insulted  me,  who  threatened  to 
arrest  me,  and  send  me  in  irons  to  the  ship,  who  had 
the  impudence  to  tell  me  that  he  was  the  captain  of 
this  vessel !     No,  sir  !  " 

"Very  well,  sir;  suit  yourself;  I  am  going  to  the 
steerage  to  attend  to  my  classes." 

Without  waiting  for  his  associate's  final  decision  as 
to  what  he  intended  to  do,  Mr.  vStoute  left  the  state- 
room. By  this  time  Paul  had  recovered  from  the 
faintness  which  had  oppressed  him,  and  had  ordered 
the  first  lieutenant  to  "  pipe  to  recitations." 

"  Are  we  to  go  on  with  the  studies  as  usual.  Cap- 
tain Kendall  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Stoute,  who  could  not  help 
taking  the  hand  of  the  young  commander  and  warmly 
pressing  it,  though  without  any  allusion  in  words  to 
Professor  Hamblin. 

"  Certainly,  sir  ;  the  students  will  not  be  allowed  to 
neglect  any  regular  duty,"  replied  Paul. 

"  After  the  cheers  which  were  given  on  deck,  there 
is  danger  of  a  disturbance." 

"  No,  sir ;  I  think  not.  If  any  officer  or  seaman 
makes  a  disturbance,  he  shall  be  put  under  arrest 
instantly." 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.     I  S3 

"  But  suppose  they  all  do  it  in  concert." 

"They  will  not,  sir;"  but  Paul  spoke  in  hope 
rather  than  in  faith,  and  dreaded  the  demonstration 
suggested  by  the  professor. 

Mr.  Stoute  went  into  the  steerage.  The  students 
were  all  there,  including  the  crew  of  the  cutter  which 
had  conveyed  ^IcDougal  to  the  ship.  They  were 
more  quiet  and  orderly  than  usual ;  but  the  calm  often 
precedes  the  storm.  Captain  Kendall  passed  into  the 
steerage,  and  his  appearance  was  the  signal  for  a  gen- 
eral clapping  of  the  hands,  in  which  all  the  officers 
joined.  That  he  had  won  the  day  in  his  dispute  with  the 
obnoxious  professor ;  that  he  had  threatened  to  arrest 
Mr.  Hamblin,  and  send  him  in  irons  to  the  ship  ;  that 
he  had  actually  called  the  willing  carpenter  and  boat- 
swain to  execute  the  anticipated  order,  —  were  more 
than  enough  to  make  the  captain  a  hero  with  the  ship's 
company.  Boys  worship  pluck,  and  are  not  always 
particular  that  it  should  be  displayed  in  a  good  cause. 

"  Silence,  if  you  please,"  said  Paul,  moved  by  the 
applause  of  the  students. 

Silence  came  instantly,  for  the  captain  was  a  "  little 
god"  just  then,  and  had  more  influence  over  the  ship's 
company  at  that  moment  than  ever  before.  It  is  true 
rhey  regretted  the  fate  of  poor  McDougal,  but  there 
was  not  one  of  them  who  did  not  believe  that  the 
captain  was  right  in  his  estimate  of  the  culprit's  guilt. 

"•  I  wish  to  ask  a  favor  of  you,"  continued  Paul,  in  a 
rather  embarrassed  tone. 

A  clapping  of  hands  assured  him  that  he  could  ask 
no  favor  that  would  not  be  unanimously  granted. 

"  Whatever  happens,   I  wish  you   to   make   no   dis' 


1S4  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

turbance,  and  no  demonstrations  of  approval  or  dissent 
Will  you  heed  my  request?" 

"  We  will !  "  shouted  the  students  with  one  voice. 

*'  Thank  you,"  replied  Paul,  w4io  did  not  believe  in 
a  display  of  force  before  it  was  necessary. 

The  boys  commenced  work  upon  their  lessons,  and 
the  captain,  passing  through  the  steerage,  went  on 
deck  to  avoid  the  necessity  of  meeting  Mr.  Hamblin, 
wliose  step  he  heard  in  the  passage-way  leading  from 
the  cabin.  As  Paul  disappeared,  the  obnoxious  sava?zi 
entered  the  steerage.  One  of  the  students  forward 
hissed,  but  his  companions  silenced  him  instantly  ;  and 
it  is  probable,  if  the  captain  had  not  spoken  to  them, 
Mr.  Hamblin  would  have  been  greeted  with  a  general 
demonstration  of  disapprobation. 

The  learned  gentleman  was  evidently  much  embar- 
rassed ;  but  he  was  very  quiet  and  subdued  in  his 
manner.  He  was  less  impatient  and  snappish  than 
usual ;  said  nothing  about  "  stupidity  "  and  "  blunder- 
inof,"  as  was  his  habit.  He  seemed  to  be  abstracted, 
as  well  he  might ;  but  while  he  displayed  less  enthu- 
siasm in  his  teaching,  he  was  infinitely  more  gentle- 
manly and  kind.  As  he  gave  no  occasion  for  any 
trouble,  none  came.  Though  the  captain  did  not 
appear  at  any  recitation  conducted  by  him,  the  pro- 
fessor made  no  comment  upon  the  circumstance. 

Paul  was  troubled,  but  he  had  made  up  his  mind  what 
to  do.  Either  Mr.  Hamblin  must  leave  the  Josepliine, 
or  he  would  respectfully  ask  to  be  relieved  from  the 
command  of  her.  It  was  simply  impossible  to  live 
with  such  a  porcupine  on  board.  It  was  a  mystery 
to  him  that  Mr.  Lowington  had  procured  the  services 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    1S5 

of  such  an  unsuitable  instructor;  but  the  fact  was,  that 
he  had  been  engaged  by  the  principal's  agent  on  the 
strength  of  his  classical  attainments,  rather  than  his 
fitnest  for  the  place.  He  had  been  so  unpopular  as  a 
tutor  and  professor  that  no  institution  could  long 
enjoy  his  services,  valuable  as  they  were  in  an  intellec- 
tual point  of  view. 

At  twelve  o'clock  orders  came  from  Mr.  Lowington 
to  dismiss  school,  and  to  dress  the  Josephine  for  visitors. 
All  hands  were  called,  and  in  a  short  time  the  vessel 
wore  her  gayest  attire.  A  line  of  flags  was  extended 
from  the  end  of  the  jib-boom  over  the  topmast-heads 
to  the  end  of  the  main  boom.  The  flag  of  Belgium, 
which  consists  of  black,  yellow,  and  red  in  equal  parts, 
perpendicularly  divided,  floated  at  the  foremast  head. 
The  Young  America  was  similarly  decorated,  and  the 
Victoria  and  Albert  hoisted  the  royal  standard  of  the 
United  Kingdom,  which  is  a  magnificent  affair,  con- 
sisting of  four  squares,  two,  in  opposite  corners,  being 
red,  one  blue  and  one  yellow,  with  a  harp  and  the 
lions  and  unicorns  worked  upon  the  squares. 

At  half  past  twelve,  the  professors'  barge,  with  the 
American  flag  in  the  stern,  and  the  Belgian  in  the  bow, 
put  off' from  the  ship  and  pulled  to  the  Qiiai  Vandyck. 
The  eminent  individual  who  was  to  be  received  by  the 
squadron  was  no  less  a  personage  than  the  governor 
of  the  Province  of  Antwerp,  an  office  once  filled  by 
the  distinguished  Charles  Rogier,  the  present  minister 
of  foreign  affairs. 

As  the  boat  containing  his  excellency  put  off'  from 
the  auay,  the  yards  of  both  vessels  were  manned.     All 
the   scddents  were  dressed  in  their  best  uniform,  and 
16* 


l86  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

the  display  was  really  quite  imposing.  The  governor 
went  on  board  of  the  ship,  was  duly  cheered  bv  the 
students,  and  he  visited  every  part  of  the  vessel.  After 
he  had  partaken  of  a  collation  in  the  main  cabin,  he 
left  the  ship,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Ivowington,  and 
visited  the  Josephine.  Everything  appeared  to  the 
best  advantage,  and  his  excellency  expressed  himself 
as  highly  delighted  with  the  naval  institution. 

All  the  officers  and  professors  were  presented  to  the 
distinguished  guest,  who  took  a  great  deal  of  notice 
of  Paul,  and  hardly  any  of  Mr.  Hamblin  —  a  muddling 
of  distinctions  which  sore  puzzled  and  annoyed  the 
savant.  Not  even  Mr.  Lowington  could  have  sus- 
pected that  the  Josephines  were  in  a  state  of  feverish 
excitement,  and  had  been  almost  in  a  state  of  mutiny, 
so  fair  and  pleasant  was  the  outside  aspect  of  the 
ship's  company.  The  governor,  having  completed  his 
inspection  of  the  vessel,  invited  all  the  officers  to  dine 
with  him,  and  was  then  landed  with  as  much  ceremony 
as  he  had  been  received. 

Mr.  Lowington  accompanied  the  governor  to  the 
quay,  and  on  his  return  he  went  on  board  of  the  Jose- 
phine to  announce  his  programme  for  a  visit  to  several 
of  the  cities  of  Belgium.  All  hands  were  called,  and 
were  informed  that  the  next  three  days  would  be 
devoted  to  sight-seeing,  and  that  the  students  would 
take  the  train  for  Ghent  at  half  past  two.  The  ship's 
com},  ny  heard  the  intelligence  with  a  coolness  which 
did  n  t  escape  the  notice  of  the  principal ;  but  he 
soon  received  an  explanation  of  this  apparent  inditler- 
ence. 

"  I  am  very  sorry,  Mr.  Lowington,"  said  Professor 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.     1S7 

Ilaiiiblin,  stepping  up  to  him,  as  he  descended  from 
the  hatch,  "  to  be  again  compelled  to  comphiin  to  you 
of  the  misconduct  of  Mr.  Kendalh  This  morning  he 
threatened  to  arrest  me  and  send  me  in  irons  on  board 
of  the  ship  —  inc,  sir  !  He  actuall}-  sent  for  the  boat- 
swain and  carpenter  for  this  purpose." 

''  Captain  Kendall !  "  exclaimed  the  principal,  an- 
noyed beyond   measure   at    this   recital   of  grievance. 
"  There  must  have  been  some  strong  provocation." 
"  Could   anything  justify   such  a  threat,  or  such  a 
course  ?  " 

"  We  will  not  speak  of  this  subject  here,"  added  the 
principal,  when  he  saw  that  the  eyes  of  every  student 
on  board  were  fixed  upon  them. 

"  Something  should  be  done  immediately,"  replied 
Mr.  Hamblin,  decidedly. 

''  I  have  not  time  to  hear  the  case  now.  We  take 
the  train  for  Ghent  in  less  than  an  hour.  I  will  see 
you  in  the  railway  carriage." 

Mr.  Lowington  moved  towards  the  gangway,  where 
the  barge  was  waiting  for  him  ;  but  Paul,  his  cheeks 
all  aglow,  stepped  up  to  him,  and  touched  his  cap. 

"Mr.  Lowington,"  said  he,  "I  wish  to  make  a  com- 
plaint against  Mr.  Hamblin.  He  interferes  with  the 
discipline  of  the  vessel,  is  very  insulting  to  me  ;  and 
I  must  ask  that  he  be  removed  from  the  Josephine, 
or  that  I  may  be  permitted  to  resign." 

"  I  am  very  sorry  you  are  having  any  trouble  here  ; 
but  I  cannot  stay  now  to  hear  about  it.  I  will  see  you 
on  the  train." 

"  Excuse  me,  one  moment,  ]SIr.  Lowington,"  added 
the   savant  of    the   Josephine,   as   the  principal   was 


l88  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 

going  over  the  side.  "  I  wish  to  inquire  if  we  make 
any  stay  in  Brussels?" 

"  We  shall  probably  remain  there  one  day." 

"I  have  an  invitation  to  visit  Monsieur  Rog'er,  the 
chief  minister  of  the  King  of  Belgium,  and  should 
like  to  accept  it,"  added  Mr.  Ilamblin,  who  thought 
it  would  be  well  for  the  principal  to  know  this  fact 
before  he  thought  much  of  the  difficulty  between 
himself  and   the  captain. 

"You  will  have  ample  time,"  answered  Mr.  Low- 
ington,  as  he  stepped  over  the  side  into  the  boat. 

At  two  o'clock  all  hands  embarked  in  a  ferry-boat, 
which  conveyed  them  to  the  Tete  de  Flandre,  oppo- 
site Antwerp,  where  the  Ghent  railway  station  is 
located.  By  the  good  offices  of  the  governor  of 
Antwerp,  a  special  train  had  been  procured  for 
their  accommodation,  and  the  carriages  were  to  be 
at  the  disposal  of  the  principal  for  the  entire  round 
of  the  Belgian  cities.  By  this  arrangement,  the  tourists 
were  enabled  to  make  the  tour  in  the  brief  space  allot- 
ted to  it.  They  were  to  spend  a  da}^  in  the  capital, 
but  only  one  or  two  hours  in  each  of  the  other  places. 

In  Belgium  about  two  thirds  of  all  the  railways  are 
owned  or  leased  by  the  government,  which  runs  the 
roads,  and  even  those  which  are  in  the  hands  of  cor- 
porations will  eventually  revert  to  the  state.  They 
are  exceedingly  well  managed,  and  very  few  accidents 
occur  u^^on  them  ;  but  they  run  at  a  low  rate  of  speed, 
compared  with  the  English  railways.  The  fares  are 
about  three  cents  a  mile,  which  is  below  the  average 
in  Europe. 

Mr.  Lowington  selected  a  compartment  in  one  of 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.     iS^J 

the  carriages,  and  arranged  his  party  so  as  to  transact 
the  disagreeable  bnsiness  on  hand  diu'ing  the  trip. 
Dr.  Winstock  and  Paul  sat  at  one  end  of  the  section, 
and  Mr.  Stoute  and  Terrill  at  the  other,  while  Mr. 
Lowington  and  Professor  Plamblin  occupied  the  mid- 
dle seats.  The  two  students  were  allowed  to  occupy 
the  places  at  the  windows,  so  that  they  could  see  the 
country  which  they  passed  through  ;  for  the  principal 
deemed  this  as  important  for  them  as  their  lessons  ;  in 
fact,  it  was  a  study  of  geography.  The  train  moved 
off,  bearing  the  company  through  a  low  country,  not 
very  attractive  in  itself,  though  the  little  farms,  gar- 
dens, villages  and  towns  were  full  of  interest  to  young 
men  like  Paul. 

"  Now,  Mr.  Hamblin,  I  am  ready  to  hear  your  com- 
plaints," said  Mr.  Lowington,  after  the  train  had  passed 
out  of  the  station.  "  Captain  Kendall,  you  may  give 
your  attention  to  it,  though  you  can  look  out  of  the 
window  at  the  same  time." 

"Am  I  to  be  confronted  with  that  boy?"  demanded 
the  professor,  indignantly. 

"That  boy!"  replied  Mr.  Lowington.  "I  am  to 
hear  what  you  and  Captain  Kendall  have  to  say.  Go 
on,  if  you  please,  sir." 

"  You  will  remember  that  one  of  the  students, 
McDougal,  was  sent  on  board  of  the  ship  this  morn- 
ing," Mr.  Hamblin  began,  though  he  was  utterly 
disgusted  because  he  was  obliged  to  make  his  com- 
plaint in  the  presence  of  Paul. 

"  I  remember  it." 

"  The  offence  which  that  boy  committed  was  against 
me  personally.     As  he  explained  the  case  to  me,  and 


190  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

made  a  very  humble  apolog}-,  I  was  willing  to  forgive 
him.  I  intimated  to  the  officer  of  the  deck  that  he 
need  not  report  the  matter  to  the  captain  ;  but  it  was 
reported  to  the  cajDtain,  and  when  I  went  on  deck, 
after  breakfast,  I  found  the  students  had  been  assem- 
bled. Mr.  Kendall  addressed  them,  with  which  I  had 
no  fiiult  to  find.  But  you  can  judge  of  my  astonish- 
ment when  he  called  up  ISIcDougal,  and  ordered  a 
boat  to  convey  him  on  board  of  the  ship,  thus  sub- 
jecting him  to  the  severest  punishment  known  to 
the  students  of  the  Josephine. 

"  I  deemed  it  my  duty  to  interfere,  which  I  did  in 
the  most  civil  manner.  I  respectfully  protested  against 
the  action  of  the  captain.  I  say  I  deemed  it  my  duty 
to  interfere." 

Mr.  Hamblin  paused,  and  looked  at  the  principal. 
He  wished  him  to  say  that  he  also  deemed  it  his  duty 
to  interfere  ;  but  Mr.  Lowington  did  not  say  that,  or 
anything  else,  and  w^aited  till  the  professor  was  ready 
to  proceed. 

"  I  remonstrated  with  Mr.  Kendall,  and  he  saw  fit 
to  disregard  my  protest.  I  demanded  that  his  order 
should  be  rescinded  ;  but  he  was  haughty  and  impu- 
dent in  his  manner.  He  told  me  that  the  boy  should 
be  sent  to  the  ship.  He  appeared  to  be  utterly  want- 
ing in  judgment,  though,  up  to  this  time,  I  had  re- 
monstrated only  in  the  mildest  terms.  He  informed 
me,  in  the  most  offensive  manner,  that  he  was  the 
captain  of  the  vessel." 

At  this  point  Mr.  Lowington  bit  his  lips,  to  repress 
a  smile  which  was  involuntarily  manifesting  itself  on 
his  face. 


VOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.     Kjl 

"  Finall}',  sir,  he  sent  for  the  boatswain  and  carpen- 
ter, and  threatened  to  have  me  conveyed  to  the  sliip 
in  irons.  It  was  not  enough  to  say  he  would  send 
me  to  the  ship,  but  he  would  send  me  in  irons  !  Did 
ever  a  boy  speak  to  a  man  like  that  before?  In  col- 
lege, academy,  and  school,  I  have  always  been  master; 
but  here  I  find  myself  subject  to  the  will  of  a  stripling 
of  sixteen  or  seventeen  !  " 

Mr.  Hamblin  finished  his  narrative,  set  his  teeth 
tight  together,  and  threw  himself  back  in  his  seat  to 
await  the  decision  of  the  principal. 

''  Captain  Kendall,  I  will  hear  your  version  of  this 
afiair,"  said  Mr.  Lowington,  mildly. 

The  professor  made  a  movement  as  if  to  spring  to 
his  feet.  The  proceedings  seemed  to  be  very  irregu- 
lar. He  wanted  the  decision  made  upon  his  state- 
ment ;  and  it  appeared  like  an  insult  to  him  to  ask  a 
student  for  his  version  of  the  affair  after  the  instructor 
had  spoken. 

"  When  I  was  informed  thatMcDougal  had  directed 
the  hose-pipe  at  Mr.  Hamblin,"  said  Paul,  "  I  decided 
^o  make  an  example  of  him  ;  for  I  had  a  hint  that  the 
students  intended  to  annoy  the  senior  professor,  and 
this  was  the  third  time  something  had  happened  to 
him.  I  was  satisfied  that  the  act  was  done  on  pur- 
pose, though  I  could  not  prove  it." 

"It  w'as  not  done  on  purpose,"  interposed  jSIr. 
Hamblin,  wrathfully.     "  McDougal,  on  his  knees  —  " 

"You  will  be  kind  enough  not  to  interrupt  Captain 
Kendall,"  said  ]Mr.  Lowington,  mildly,  but. firmly. 

"I  decided  to  send  him  on  board  of  the  ship,  and 
directed  the  second  lieutenant  'to  report  the  circum- 


I02  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

stances  to  you.  Before  the  boat  had  shoved  off,  Mr. 
Hamblin  called  me  aside,  and  objected  to  my  action. 
He  said  the  affair  was  personal  with  him,  and  he  was 
surprised  that  I  had  interfered  with  it.  I  replied  that 
the  matter  affected  the  discipline  of  the  crew,  and  that 
I  should  send  McDougal  on  board  of  the  ship.  He 
was  angry  then,  spoke  of  my  lack  of  judgment, 
and  said  the  boy  should  not  be  sent  to  the  ship.  I 
told  him  then,  as  decidedly  as  I  knew  how,  that  I 
commanded  the  vessel." 

''  Yes,  sir  ;  that  he  commanded  the  vessel !  "  said 
Mr.  Hamblin,  with  much  excitement. 

"  Go  on,  Captain  Kendall,"  added  Mr.  Lowington. 

"  He  used  some  strong  language  then,  and  I  told 
him  I  had  nothing  more  to  say.  As  I  was  walking 
away,  he  told  me  to  stop,  and  called  me  a  puppy.  He 
repeated  the  expression,  and  then  I  sent  for  Mr.  Cleats 
and  Mr.  Gage.  They  came,  and  I  informed  Mr. 
Hamblin  that  if  he  applied  another  offensive  epithet  to 
me,  I  would  send  him  on  board  the  ship  in  irons." 

"  Yes,  sir !  send  me  to  the  ship  in  irons  !  Could 
you  have  conceived  of  such  an  indignity?"  ex- 
claimed the  professor.  Am  I  a  common  sailor?  Am 
I  a  servant?  Am  I  a  student?  or  am  I  the  senior  pro- 
fessor of  the  consort?" 

"  Did  you  speak  to  Captain  Kendall  of  his  lack  of 
judgment,  Mr.  Hamblin?"   asked  the  principal. 

'•'  I  did,  most  assuredly  ;  and  I  am  free  to  say  that  a 
child  would  have  exhibited  more  judgment  than  he 
did,"  replied  the  professor,  warmly. 

"  Did  you  say  that  McDougal  should  not  be  sent  on 
board  of  the  ship?" 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.     1 93 

"  I  did  ;  it  was  an  outrage  upon  the  boy  after  he 
had  begged  my  pardon  wi'th  liis  knees  on  the  wet 
deck  ;  and  it  was  an  outrage  upon  me,  who  had  for- 
given his  offence." 

"  Did  you  call  Captain  Kendall  a  puppy  on  the 
quarter-deck  of  the  Josephine  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  whether  it  was  on  the  quarter-deck 
or  the  half-deck." 

"  Oblige  me  by  answering  my  question." 

"  Perhaps  I  did,"  replied  Mr.  Hamblin,  looking  upon 
the  floor  of  the  carriage  ;  for  this,  he  was  conscious,  was 
his  weak  point. 

"  I  must  ask  you  either  to  affirm  or  deny  that  por- 
tion of  Captain  Kendall's  complaint." 

"  If  I  did,  it  was  because  I  had  been  snubbed  and 
insulted  by  a  pupil." 

"  You  do  not  answer  me,  sir." 

"  I  did  ;  and  I  am  willing  to  acknowledge  it  was 
highly  improper  ;  but  I  was  —  " 

''  It  is  not  necessary  to  explain  it,"  interposed  Mr. 
Lowington.  "  I  desire  now  only  to  obtain  the  facts. 
You  applied  this  epithet  twice  to  Captain  Kendall  — 
did  you  ?  " 

"  Possibly  I  did.     I  was  much  excited." 

"Affirm  or  deny  it,  if  you  please." 

"  I  will  grant  that  I  did,  though  I  do  not  now  dis- 
tinctly remember.  It  was  wrong  for  me  to  use  such 
language  under  any  circumstances,  but  I  have  not 
been  in  the  habit  of  being  snubbed  by  my  pupils." 

"  Is  there  any  other  material  fact  you  wish  to  add, 
Mr.  Hamblin?"  asked  the  principal. 

"  Nothing  more  is  needed,  I  think,"  replied  the  pro- 
17 


1^4  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

fessor,  who  really  believed  that  he  had  overwhelmed 
Paul,  In  spite  of  the  conscious  disadvantage  he  labored 
under  in  having  used  intemperate  language  himself. 
*'  It  Is  plain  enough  that  Mr.  Kendall  and  I  cannot  get 
alons;  toofcther  In  the  same  vessel." 

''  That  Is  plain  enough,"  added  Mr.  Lowington. 
'■'- 1  had  requested  Professor  Stoute  and  Mr.  Terrill  to 
take  seats  in  this  carriage  In  order  to  afford  any  in- 
formation we  might  need  ;  but  I  find  the  facts  In  the 
case  are  not  disputed.  On  the  material  points,  there  Is 
no  difference  of  statement  between  Mr.  Hamblin  and 
Captain  Kendall.  I  shall  reserve  my  decision  till  we 
return  to  the  vessels." 

"  It  will  be  Impossible  for  me  to  do  my  duty  to  the 
students  on  board  of  the  Josephine  while  Mr.  Kendall 
is  In  command  of  her,"  said  the  professor,  who  wanted 
the  decision  at  once,  so  confident  was  he  that  the 
principal  could  not  sustain  the  young  commander  this 
time. 

"  I  shall  arrange  it  so  that  you  and  Captain  Kendall 
will  no  longer  sail  in  the  same  vessels." 

That  was  very  indefinite,  but  something  was  to  be 
done  ;  and  this  was  all  the  comfort  the  professor  re- 
ceived. Paul  was  much  agitated,  and  Dr.  Wlnstock 
talked  to  him  for  half  an  hour  before  he  could  fix  his 
attention  upon  the  novelties  of  the  country  hurried  in 
panorama  before  him. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    1 95 


CHAPTER   XII. 

"  IN  Belgium's  capital." 

GAXD  ! "  shouted  the  guard,  as  he  walked  along 
the  step  before  the  doors  of  the  compartments, 
just  as  the  train  entered  the  station. 
'    "  I  suppose  that  means  Ghent."  said  Paul. 

'•  Yes ;  Gand  is  the  French  name  of  the  place," 
replied  Dr.  Winstock.  "  There  are  many  cities  in 
Europe  which  you  would  not  recognize  by  their  for- 
eign appellations." 

As  the  train  stopped  the  whistle  of  the  Young 
America's  boatswain  called  the  students  together,  and 
Mr.  Lowln^ton  told  them  thev  could  stav  only  two 
hours  in  the  place. 

"  Ghent  is  situated  at  the  junction  of  the  River  Lys 
with  the  Scheldt,"  said  Professor  Mapps,  who,  to  the 
astonishment  of  the  boys,  seemed  to  be  plumed  for  a 
lecture.  "  The  numerous  branches  of  these  rivers, 
either  natural  or  artificial,  form  canals  which  extend 
in  all  directions  through  the  city.  The  town  may  be 
said  to  be  composed  of  twenty-six  islands,  which  are 
connected  together  by  no  less  than  eighty  bridges. 
The  srand  canal  extends  from  the  lower  Scheldt  to 
the  town,  by  means  of  which  ships  drawing  eighteen 
teet  can  come  up  to  the  basin.     All  these  canals  are 


196  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

navigable  for  boats  or  vessels.  It  is  surrounded  by  a 
vs'all  seven  or  eight  miles  in  extent,  for  its  defence. 
On  the  grand  canal,  half  way  between  the  city  and 
the  West  Scheldt,  there  are  sluices,  by  which  the 
whole  country  could  be  laid  under  water  in  case  of 
invasion  by  an  enemy. 

"Ghent  has  been  called  the  Manchester  of  Belgium, 
on  account  of  its  being  so  largely  engaged  in  cotton 
manufactures.  Its  factories  are  operated  by  steam 
power.  The  population  in  1863  was  one  hundred  and 
twenty-two  thousand.  The  cultivation  of  flowers  is 
largely  carried  on  here,  there  being  about  four  hun- 
dred hot-houses  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  city.  , 

"  Ghent  is  a  very  old  city,  and  occupies  a  prominent 
place  in  history.  In  the  days  of  Charles  the  Bold  it 
was  the  capital  of  Flanders.  Charles  V.,  Emperor 
of  Germany,  was  born  here.  It  was  formerly  a  city 
of  vast  importance,  and  at  one  time  its  wealth  and 
power  had  increased  to  such  an  extent,  that  it  was 
regarded  as  the  rival  of  Paris.  '■ye  inettrais  Paris 
dans  moji  Gaiid^  Charles  V.  used  to  say,  as  he  proud- 
ly contemplated  this  great  city.     What  does  it  mean?" 

"  I  could  put  Paris  into  my  glove,"  replied  one  of 
the  French  scholars  near  the  professor.  "  But  gaiit 
is  the  French  word  for  glovc.^'* 

"  Near  enough  for  a  pun,  and  much  nearer  than 
modern  punsters  often  get  it,"  continued  Mr.  Mapps. 
"  Ghent,  in  former  days,  had  the  reputation  of  being 
a  turbulent  city,  and  its  people  were  bold  and  warlike. 
They  have  always  been  forward  in  asserting  and  de- 
fending their  liberties ;  and  you  w^ill  find  that  the 
burghers   of   Ghent    figure    largely    in    Mr.    Motley's 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    I97 

Histories.  I  w  ill  not  detain  you  longer  now,  but,  as 
we  pass  through  the  city,  I  shall  have  something  more 
to  say  about  its  historic  character." 

A  sufficient  number  of  vehicles  had  been  gathered 
during  the  professor's  lecture  to  enable  the  students  to 
make  the  most  of  their  limited  time  in  Ghent.  They 
went  first  to  the  Beffroi^  or  Belfry-tower.  It  is  a  kind 
of  watch-tower,  two  hundred  and  eighty  feet  high, 
built  in  the  twelfth  century.  The  structure  is  square, 
and  is  surmounted  by  a  gilt  dragon.  It  contains  a 
chime  of  bells,  and  a  huge  bell  weighing  five  tons. 
The  records  of  the  city  were  formerly  kept  in  the 
low^er  part  of  the  building,  which  is  now  degraded 
into  a  prison.  The  entrance  to  the  tower  is  through 
a  shop,  and  the  view  from  the  top  is  very  fine. 

The  Cathedral  of  St.  Bavon,  the  Church  of  St. 
Michael,  and  the  Hotel  de  Ville,  or  Town  Hall,  were 
pointed  out,  and  the  carriages  stopped  in  the  ^Marche 
au  Vendredi,  a  large  square,  or  market-place,  which 
takes  its  name  from  the  day  on  which  the  sale  is  held. 
The  phrase  means  Friday  Market.  Mr.  Mapps  ex- 
plained the  use  of  the  square,  and  pointed  out  the  an- 
cient buildings  with  Flemish  gables,  which  look  like  a 
flight  of  stairs  on  each  slope,  which  surrounds  it. 

"  This  was  the  grand  meeting-place  of  the  citizens 
of  Ghent,"  he  continued  ;  "  the  counts  of  Flanders 
were  inaugurated  here  with  great  ceremony  and 
splendor.  Here  the  trades-unions,  or  societies  of 
weavers,  used  to  meet.  Here  the  standard  of  rebel- 
lion was  planted,  and  the  people  rallied  around  it  to 
overthrow  their  oppressors.  Here  Jacques  van  Arte- 
velde,  the  Brewer  of  Ghent,  encountered  a  hostile 
17* 


198  DIKES   AND    DITCHES,    OR 

association,  and  fought  one  of  the  most  furious  com- 
bats known  in  history.  He  was  called  the  Brewer  of 
Ghent,  because,  though  of  noble  family,  he  joined  the 
society  of  brewers  to  flatter  the  vanity  of  the  lower 
classes.  His  partisans  were  chiefly  weavers,  and  his 
opponents  the  fullers.  In  the  midst  of  the  strife  the 
host  —  the  consecrated  bread  and  wine  of  the  Catholic 
mass  —  was  brought  into  the  square,  in  order  to  sepa- 
rate the  furious  artisans  ;  but  it  was  disregarded,  and 
the  bodies  of  fifteen  hundred  citizens  were  left  on  this 
spot. 

"  Van  Artevelde,  whose  statue  you  see  before  you," 
added  the  professor,  pointing  to  the  object,  "  was  a 
person  of  great  influence.  He  was  the  ally  of  Edward 
III.  of  England,  and  had  raised  himself  to  the  posi- 
tion of  Rmvaert^  or  Protector  of  Flanders,  by  banish- 
ing its  hereditary  counts.  By  his  advice,  the  King  of 
England  had  added  ihejieur  dc  lls^  or  lilies  of  France, 
to  the  British  arms,  claiming  to  be  King  of  France. 
He  courted  the  aid  of  the  Flemish  people,  who  were 
very  powerful,  —  for  it  was  said  that  Ghent  alone  could 
furnish  eighty  thousand  fighting  men,  —  in  order  to 
establish  his  claim  to  rule  France. 

"  Edward  obtained  the  assistance  of  the  Flemings  ; 
but  he  did  not  conquer  France,  though  he  gained 
some  splendid  victories,  in  w^hich  the  famous  Black 
Prince  figured.  Van  Artevelde  began  to  dread  the 
vengeance  of  the  hereditary  counts  of  Flanders,  whose 
power  he  had  usurped,  and  in  1344  he  invited  Edward 
to  meet  him  at  Sluis.  Here  the  Brewer  proposed  to 
make  Edward's  son  —  the  Black  Prince  —  sovereign 
of   Flanders,    in    order    to    secine    the   protection    of 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    IlOi^LAXD    AND    BELGIUM.     1 99 

England.  He  relied  upon  his  innuencc  with  the  citi- 
zens to  induce  them  to  submit  to  this  arrangement ; 
but  the  stout  burghers  rejected  the  proposal  with  con- 
tempt and  indignation.  • 

"  During  Van  Arteveldt's  absence,  a  popular  insur- 
rection was  fomented  against  him  ;  and,  on  his  return, 
as  he  rode  through  the  streets,  he  was  made  conscious 
of  the  storm  that  was  brewing  against  the  Brewer. 
He  went  to  his  house,  and  barricaded  the  doors  ;  but 
the  street  was  soon  filled  by  the  mob.  He  addressed 
them  from  a  window  ;  but  they  would  not  hear  him, 
and  he  attempted  to  escape  by  a  back  door  into  an 
adjoining  church.  Failing  to  accomplish  this  purpose, 
the  infuriated  people  broke  in  upon  him,  and  he  was 
killed. 

"  In  this  square,  also,  were  kindled  the  fires  of  the 
Inquisition  by  the  Duke  of  Alva,  at  the  command  of 
Philip  II.,  and  thousands  perished  in  the  barbarous 
persecution. 

"  The  rebellious  spirit  of  the  people  of  Ghent  was 
very  trying  to  Charles  V.  He  demanded  of  them  an 
enormous  sum  of  money,  to  enable  him  to  carry  on  a 
war  against  France.  The  burghers  put  the  town  in  a 
state  of  defence,  and  privately  oftered  their  allegiance 
to  Francis  I.  of  France.  He  declined  the  ofter,  and 
maliciously  informed  Charles  of  it,  who  marched  an 
armv  throuf^h  France  to  punish  the  treason  of  his  sub- 
jects  in  Ghent.  Commanding  this  army  ni  person,  he 
reached  the  gates  of  the  city,  and  surrounded  its  walls, 
before  the  people  were  aware  of  his  presence. 

''  The  utmost  consternation  prevailed   in   the  town, 
and  messeno^ers  were  sent  to  the  emperor   to  sue  for 


200  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 

forgiveness.  Without  granting  any  terms  to  the  rebels, 
he  imperiously  demanded  that  the  gates  should  be 
opened.  His  command  was  obeyed,  and  the  Spanish 
army  marched  into  the  town.  The  Duke  of  Alva 
suo-"-ested  that  the  entire  city  should  be  destroyed  ;  but 
Charles  satisfied  himself  with  beheading  fourteen  of 
the  ringleaders  of  the  rebellion,  and  confiscating  their 
property.  The  principal  officers  of  the  city  were  or- 
dered to  appear  before  the  emperor  barefoot  and  bare- 
headed, clothed  in  black  gowns,  and  with  halters 
around  their  necks.  They  were  compelled  to  sue  for 
pardon  on  their  knees.  As  an  additional  penalty,  the 
magistrates  were  forbidden  to  appear  in  public  without 
a  halter  on  their  necks,  as  a  badge  of  their  ignominy. 
The  rope  was  worn  ;  but,  in  the  lapse  of  time,  it  be- 
came a  silken  cord,  tied  in  a  true-lover's  knot,  and  was 
regarded  as  an  ornament  which  the  magistrate  could 
not  dispense  with. 

"  In  1570,  when  the  people  attempted  to  shake  off 
the  Spanish  rule,  the  citadel  or  fortress  at  the  Porte 
d'Anvers  (which  has  been  demolished)  was  besieged 
by  the  Prince  of  Orange.  It  was  gallantly  defended 
by  the  Spaniards  for  a  long  time  ;  but,  at  last,  three 
thousand  of  the  burghers  of  Ghent,  clothed  in  white 
shirts  as  a  distinguishing  mark,  assaulted  the  citadel. 
Their  scaling-ladders  were  not  long  enough,  and  the 
attack  failed.  On  the  following  day,  while  prepara- 
tions were  in  progress  to  renew  the  attack,  the  Span- 
iards capitulated.  When  suitable  terms  had  been 
agreed  upon,  the  garrison,  only  one  hundred  and  fifty 
in  number,  marched  out  under  the  command  of  a  wo- 
man.    It  appeared  then  that  the  governor  of  the  for- 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    201 

tress  was  absent,  and  that  the  Spaniards  had  been  com- 
manded, during  the  protracted  siege,  by  his  wife." 

This  was  rather  a  long  speech  to  be  made  in  the 
pubhc  square  ;  but  the  boys,  interested  in  the  profess- 
or's remarks,  gathered  closely  around  him  ;  and  it  is 
not  probable  that  many  of  the  Ghenters  who  had  been 
attracted  to  the  square  by  the  unwonted  scene  under- 
stood a  word  that  was  said.  The  carriages  next  pro- 
ceeded to  the  Beguinage,  a  kind  of  convent  or  nunnery. 
The  establishment  is  a  little  town  by  itself,  with  streets, 
squares,  and  gates,  and  is  surrounded  by  a  wall  and 
moat.  In  the  centre  there  is  a  church.  The  houses 
are  occupied  by  the  Beguines,  a  sisterhood  of  nuns  in 
Belgium  which  has  six  thousand  members.  They  are 
bound  by  no  vows,  as  ordinary  nuns  are,  and  may 
therefore  return  to  the  world  at  pleasure,  marry,  and 
come  back  in  their  widowhood.  They  act  as  Sisters 
of  Charity  in  the  city,  and  some  of  them  are  wealthy  ; 
but  all  wear  the  garb  of  the  order.  There  are  about 
six  hundred  of  them  in  this  colony.  On  the  door  of 
each  house  is  the  name  of  the  patron  saint  of  the 
occupant. 

The  drive  was  continued  through  some  of  the  prin- 
cipal streets  of  Ghent ;  and,  within  a  few  moments  of 
the  appointed  time,  the  students  were  again  seated  in 
the  railway  carriages.  The  road  to  Bruges  extends 
along  the  side  of  the  canal  from  Ostend  to  Ghent, 
which  has  high  banks,  lined  nearly  all  the  way  with 
tall  trees.  The  view^  from  the  windows  of  the  train 
was  interesting  rather  than  picturesque.  In  an  hour 
the  train  stopped  at  its  destination  ;  but  it  was  after 
six  o'clock,  and  there  was  no  time  for  Professor  Mapps 


202  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

to  make  any  long  speeches,  though  Bruges  had  a  his- 
toiy  hardly  less  exciting  than  that  of  Ghent.  It  takes 
its  name  from  the  great  number  of  bridges  which  it 
contains  ;  for  the  place,  like  Ghent,  is  cut  up  by  canals. 

Bruges  was  once  a  rich  and  powerful  city,  reputed 
to  contain  two  hundred  thousand  inhabitants  ;  but,  like 
nearly  all  the  Flemish  cities,  it  has  declined  from  its 
forrner  grandeur,  and  now  contains  only  fifty-one  thou- 
sand, nearly  a  third  of  whom  are  paupers.  In  the 
fifteenth  century,  the  Dukes  of  Burgundy  held  their 
court  here;  it  had  an  immense  foreign  commerce,  and 
its  warehouses  were  filled  with  the  silks  and  woollens 
manufactured  in  the  vicinity.  All  this  has  passed 
away,  the  town  has  the  aspect  of  a  ruined  place, 
and  its  lofty  and  elegant  public  buildings  —  the  re- 
mains of  former  prosperity  —  seem  to  mock  its  present 
desolation. 

Fine  houses  may  be  hired  in  Bruges  at  a  rent  of 
from  sixty  to  a  hundred  dollars  a  year.  It  is  said  that 
a  house  has  not  been  built  in  the  city  for  a  century,  for 
the  reason  that  its  diminishing  inhabitants  were  more 
than  supplied  by  those  which  had  once  accommodated 
four  times  its  present  population.  The  i^lace  is  dead 
and  dull.  The  streets  are  nearly  empty.  A  man-ser- 
vant finds  himself  upon  a  hundred  dollars  a  year,  and 
a  French  teacher  charges  twenty  cents  an  hour  for  his 
services. 

The  Church  of  Notre  Dame  contains  the  tombs  of 
Charles  the  Bold  and  of  his  daugliter  Mary.  La 
Chapelle  du  Saint  Sang  takes  its  name  from  several 
drops  of  the  blood  of  the  Savior,  which  are  said  to 
have  been  brought  from  tlie  Holy  Land.     They  were 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    203 

presented  to  the  town,  and  are  kept  in  a  riehly  jewelled 
shrine,  which  is  exhibited  to  visitors  at  half  a  franc 
a  head.  The  famous  order  of  the  Knights  of  the  Gold- 
en Fleece,  so  often  mentioned  by  Motley,  whose  em- 
blems are  seen  in  many  of  the  churches  of  Belgium, 
was  established  at  Bruges,  by  Philip  the  Good,  Duke 
of  Burgundy.  The  weavers  of  Flanders  had  carried 
the  manufacture  of  wool  to  a  degree  of  perfection 
which  added  greatly  to  the  prosperity  of  the  country, 
and  the  Golden  Fleece  was  a  fitting  symbol  of  the  in- 
dustry of  the  people,  as  well  as  a  compliment  to  their 
skill. 

The  great  point  of  interest  in  Bruges  to  the  students 
of  the  squadron  was  "  The  Belfry  of  Bruges,"  which 
Longfellow  has  celebrated  in  his  poem  of  that  name, 
and  in  the  "  Carillon."  It  is  a  beautiful  Gothic  tower, 
on  an  antique  building  known  as  Les  Halles^  or  The 
Market,  a  part  of  which  was  intended  for  a  meat  mar- 
ket, and  a  part  for  a  cloth  hall.  The  spire,  or  belfry, 
is  two  hundred  and  ninety  feet  higli.  It  contains  the 
finest  set  of  chimes  in  Europe.  They  play  four  times 
an  hour,  and  their  music  is  almost  incessant.  The 
machinery  by  which  they  are  operated  consists  of  an 
immense  metallic  cylinder,  or  drum,  covered  all  over 
with  cogs  and  pins,  like  that  in  a  music-box.  As  this 
drum  turns  by' the  action  of  a  huge  weight,  the  pins 
strike  asainst  the  levers  that  communicate  with  the 
bells.  For  half  an  hour  on  Sunday  they  are  played 
by  hand,  as  at  Antwerp. 

The  praise  bestowed  upon  the  chimes  seemed  to  the 
students  to  be  well  merited.  There  is  nothing  more 
touching  and  beautiful  than  the  music  of  these  bells. 


204  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

The  boys  could  not  help  taking  in  the  inspiration  they 
imparted  ;  and  when  it  transpired  that  JMr.  Modelle, 
the  professor  of  elocution,  had  a  copy  of  Longfellow 
in  his  pocket,  they  almost  unanimously  insisted  that 
tlie  poems  relating  to  the  scene  should  be  read.  They 
gathered  around  him,  the  circle  closely  flanked  by  the 
men,  women,  and  children  of  the  dull  old  town,  who 
had  apparently  been  roused  from  their  lethargy  by  the 
advent  of  the  young  Americans.  In  his  deep  bass 
tones  he  read  the  Carillon  first. 

"  In  the  ancient  town  of  Bruges, 
In  the  quaint  old  Flemish  city, 
As  the  evening  shades  descended, 
Low  and  loud,  and  sweetly  blended, 
Low  at  times  and  loud  at  times, 
And  changing  like  a  poet's  rhymes, 
Rang  the  beautiful  wild  chimes 
From  the  belfry  in  the  market 
Of  the  ancient  town  of  Bruges." 

The  students  listened  with  almost  breathless  inter- 
est till  the  last  line  of  the  "Belfry"  was  read;  there 
was  something  so  grand  and  beautiful  in  the  poeni 
itself,  as  the  images  of  the  past  are  brought  up, — 

"I  beheld  the  pageants,  splendid, 
That  adorned  those  days  of  old : 
Stately  dames  like  queens  attended, 
Knights  who  bore  the  Pleece  of  Gold,"  — 

and  something  in  the  association  of  the  living  line* 
with  the  real  belfry  of  Bruges  before  them,  that  the 
impression  w\as  one  to  be  remembered  for  years. 

After  a  hasty  walk  through  a  couple  of  the  ancient 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.     205 

streets  of  the  city,  the  students  returned  to  the  rail- 
road station,  and  the  train  started  for  Brussels,  a  ride 
of  about  two  hours  from  Bruges.  It  was  half  ]:>ast 
nine  when  they  arrived  at  the  capital  of  Belgium. 
The  party  were  greeted  by  Mr.  Fluxion,  who  had  been 
sent  direct  from  Antwerp  to  make  arrangements  for 
their  stay  over  night.  Captain  Kendall,  his  officers 
and  crew,  were  sent  to  the  Hotel  Royal  in  the  Rue 
Fosse  aux  Loups.  It  was  a  small  hotel,  but  very  nice 
and  comfortable.  'Mv.  ^Nlolenschot,  the  proprietor, 
spoke  English,  but  he  aj^peared  to  be  the  only  person 
in  the  house  who  coidd  do  so.  He  was  very  joolite 
and  attentive  to  the  students,  and  spoke  familiarly  and 
pleasantly  to  theni  about  "  my  hotel." 

Mr.  Fluxion  himself  had  a  faculty  for  keeping  a 
hotel,  and  understood  precisely  what  tired  travellers 
wanted  when  they  came  in  late  in  the  evening ;  and 
he  had  ordered,  in  addition  to  the  ^/le  complete  the  bif- 
stck  and  pomme  de  terre.  The  boys  were  as  hungry 
as  wolves,  and  the  solid  part  of  the  entertainment  was 
very  inviting.  Each  dish  of  beefsteak  was  covered 
over  with  nicely  browned  fried  potatoes.  In  a  few 
moments  there  was  hardly  a  vestige  of  the  feast  re- 
maining on  the  table. 

The  Young  America's  ship's  company  were  quar- 
tered at  the  Hotel  de  I'Univers,  and  the  Hotel  de 
Suede,  so  that  the  party  was  separated  ;  and  Paul  was 
rather  glad  of  it,  because  there  w^ere  some  belonsrinof 
to  the  ship  VN'ho  were  not  influenced  by  the  motives 
which  prevailed  in  the  Josephine.  He  could  control 
his  crew,  even  without  the  aid  of  Mr.  Fluxion,  who. 
with  several  of  the  professors  also  lodged  at  the  Roval. 
18 


2o6  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

They  were  a  jolly  party  at  the  supper  table  ;  and  as 
none  of  the  waiters  spoke  a  word  of  English,  there  was 
a  great  deal  of  fun  made  in  giving  their  orders  ;  but 
everybody  was  remarkably  good-natured,  including 
the  waiters  themselves. 

'•'■  Waiter,"  called  Lynch,  who,  as  a  general  rule,  was 
not  guilty  of  knowing  much  about  any  of  his  studies, 
"  bring  me  the  burT 

The  servant  took  no  notice  of  him. 

"  Call  him  -.x  gai'^oti^''  said  Grossbeck. 

'*  Gargon  !  "  shouted  Lynch. 

"  Monslciii'^'  replied  the  man. 

"  Bring  me  the  burr 

"You  might  as  well  call  for  a  Canada  thistle," 
laughed  Duncan,  who  was  one  of  the  best  French 
scholars  in  the  Josephine. 

"  I  want  some  butter  ;  I  have  eaten  up  all  the  bif- 
stck^  and  all  the  poinine  de  terres^  and  now  I  w^ant 
some  bread  and  butter.  These  fellows  don't  under- 
stand their  own  language." 

'-''M'apportcz  du  beiirre^'  added  Duncan. 

^'•Oici^  oui^  oni!''  exclaimed  the  waiter,  producing 
the  required  article. 

"  That's  the  idea,"  replied  Lynch  ;  "  that  man's 
improving.  But  this  bcurrc  is  so  fresh  I  can't  eat  it; 
I  want  some  salt." 

"  Call  for  it,  then,"  laughed  Duncan. 

"  I  will ;  here's  a  go.      Garcon,  mapperty  sellier  !  " 

"  Good  !  "  roared  Duncan.  "  If  we  had  a  saddle 
of  mutton  for  supper,  I  should  suppose  you  would 
want  what  you  called  for." 

"  I  want  the  salt." 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    20/ 

"  I  thought  you  did  ;  and  that's  the  reason  why  yea 
called  for  a  saddler." 

"  I  didn't  call  for  any  saddler.     I  said  scllicr." 

"  Precisely  so  ;   and  that  is  a  saddler." 

"What  shall  I  say?" 

"  Scir 

"  Sel ;  sclllcr.  Well,  I  knew  there  was  a  sell 
about  it  somewhere." 

"  Precisely  ;  but  you  were  sold.  I  advise  you  not 
to  make  any  long  speeclies  in  French." 

"  You  may  bet  your  life  I  shall  not,"  replied 
Lynch. 

"Just  mention  the  thing  you  want  in  one  word  ; 
then  you  won't  confuse  ^ho.  gargon^ s  intellect  by  flood- 
ing it  w  ith  ideas." 

'•'' Gargo?i  —  scl"  added  Lynch,  acting  upon  this 
excellent  advice. 

The  waiter  brought  the  scl^  and  nobody  was  sold 
this  time. 

"  I  think  I  shall  pick  up  the  French  language  in 
time,"  added  Lynch,  encouraged  by  his  success. 

"  Perhaps  you  will,  but  the  Hotel  Royal  will  have 
crumbled  to  dust  befoi^e  that  happy  event  occurs." 

There  was  any  quantity  of  blunders  made  at  the 
table,  and  some  of  the  students  had  nearly  choked 
themselves  to  death  with  laughing  at  them,  and  at 
the  blank  looks  of  the  waiters  when  spoken  to  in  a 
tongue  which  Mr.  Fluxion  declared  sounded  more 
like  Low  Dutch  than  decent  French.  Mr.  Molenschot 
laughed  too,  and  intimated  that  "  my  hotel "  had 
never  been  so  lively  before. 

"What  now.  Captain  Kendall?"  said  ]Mr.  Fluxion, 
when  the  suj^per  and  the  blunders  had  ended. 


2oS  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 

"  My  officers  and  crew  wish  to  take  a  little  walk/' 
replied  Paul. 

"  What !   to-night?     It  is  after  ten  o'clock." 

"  They  wish  to  see  how  '  Belgium's  capital '  looks 
in  the  evening." 

"■  Of  course  you  can  do  as  you  think  best ;  but  I 
advise  you  to  be  cautious  with  them.  They  may  get 
into  trouble  in  a  strange  city,  or  get  lost.  If  some  of 
them  can't  speak  French  any  better  than  they  did  at 
supper,  they  will  have  to  go  to  the  watch-house, 
because  they  can't  ask  the  way  back." 

"  They  can  say  Hotel  Royal.  None  of  my  crew 
have  ever  got  into  trouble  since  the  ship's  company 
was  organized,"  added  Paul,  who  wanted  to  go  out 
himself,  and  could  not  deny  to  others  what  he  took 
himself. 

The  permission  was  given  to  walk  till  eleven 
o'clock,  but  the  bo3S  were  admonished  to  behave 
properly,  and  to  return  punctually.  Lynch  and 
Grossbeck,  who  still  clung  together  as  fast  friends, 
left  the  hotel  in  company. 

"This  is  jolly  —  isn't  it?"  said  Lynch,  as  the}'' 
passed  out  of  the  Rue  Fosse  *aux  Loups  into  the 
Place  de  la  Monnaie,  a  small  square  in  front  of  the 
Theatre  Royal. 

"  For  less  than  an  hour,"  added  Grossbeck, 
gloomily. 

"  We  don't  understand  French,  and  so  we  can't 
tell  what  time  it  is,"  laughed  Lynch. 

"  That  won't  go  down.  We  were  told  to  be  back 
at  eleven." 

"  But  if  we  don't  know  what  time  it  is,  we  can't  be 
tied  to  the  bell-rope." 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.     209 

"  No  use  ;  the  captain  knows  the  boom  from  the 
bobstay,  and  if  he  isn't  a  Knight  of  the  Golden 
Fleece,  you  can't  pull  wool  over  his  eyes.  You 
know  he  put  McDougal  through  this  morning." 

"  Well,  come  along.  We'll  have  a  good  time 
while  it  does  last,"  replied  Lynch,  apparently  ap- 
palled by  recalling  the  summary  treatment  of  his 
shipmate. 

"  Everybody  seems  to  be  having  a  good  time  here," 
said  Grossbeck,  as  they  passed  a  cafe^  in  front  of  which 
were  a  great  number  of  small  tables,  at  which  gentle- 
men were  drinking,  smoking,  and  carrying  on  noisy 
conversation.  "  I  don't  see  any  reason  why  we  should 
not.      What  are  they  drinking  there?" 

"  Beer,  or  wine,  I  suppose,"  answered  Lynch,  as 
he  led  the  way  he  knew  not  whither,  turning  to  the 
left,  because  the  street  in  that  direction  looked  more 
lively  than  the  others. 

There  was  nothing  to  be  seen,  as  most  of  the  shops 
were  closed  ;  but  they  continued  on  their  way  till 
they  came  to  a  kind  of  arcade,  a  building  which  con- 
tained a  broad  passage-way,  opening  from  the  street, 
with   a  large    number   of  little  shops   on   either   side. 

The  interior  was  brilliantly  lighted,  and  most  of 
the  small  stores  were  devoted  to  fancy  goods  and 
other  showy  articles.  The  young  seamen  entered  the 
arcade,  in  which  many  people  were  promenading. 

"  They  say  this  city  is  a  second  edition  of  Paris  on 
a  small  scale,"  continued  Lynch.  "  This  is  very  well 
got  up  ;  but  from  what  I  have  seen  of  the  town,  it 
looks  like  a  one-horse  city.  I'he  streets  are  not  much 
wider  than  a  cow-path." 
18* 


2IO  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 

"  But  they  say  it  is  like  Paris,"  added  Grossbeck. 
"My  eyes!  there's  a  clock  that  speaks  English  1 
It  is  half  past  ten,"  exclaimed  Lynch.  "  But  I'm  not 
going  back  to  the  Hotel  Royal  till  I've  had  a  little 
fun.  There's  a  what-you-call-it,  where  they  sell  wine. 
Let's  go  in,  and  see  what  it's  like." 

The  place  indicated  was  a  wine-shop,  and  the  two 
boys  entered,  seating  themselves  at  one  of  the  little 
tables.  The  promj^t  waiter  came  to  them,  bowed  and 
scraped,  and  flourished  a  napkin,  and  hinted  that  he 
would  be  happy  to  take  their  order. 

"  What  will  you  have,  Grossbeck?  " 

"  I'll  take  a  glass  of  wine." 

"  Let's  see  you  take  it !  "  laughed  Lynch.  "  What 
shall  we  call  for?  I  don't  remember  a  word  of 
French,  now  that  I  want  to  use  it." 

"  Perhaps  the  gar^on  can  speak  English.  Ask 
him." 

"  Ask  him  ?     What  shall  I  say  ?  " 

"  O,  I  know.  Parlez-votis  Angleterj^e?^^  added 
Grossbeck,  turning  to  the  waiter. 

''''  Non^  monsieur ^'^  replied  the  waiter,  who  did  not 
speak  "  England." 

"  O,  confound  it!  What's  the  Dutch  for  wine?'' 
demanded  Lynch,  impatiently. 

"  I  know  —  eazi  dc  vie.  Gar^on^  eau  de  vie^* 
replied  Grossbeck,  confidently. 

The  waiter  disappeared,  and  presently  returned 
with  a  small  decanter  and  two   minute  wine-glasses. 

"  I  knew  eau  de  vie  would  bring  it,"  added  Gross- 
beck, as  he  filled  the  little  glasses. 

"  That's    pretty   strong  wine,"    said    Lynch,    when 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    211 

he   had  swallowed  the  contents  of  the  glass  with  a 
very  wry  face. 

"  That's  so." 

They  looked  about  them  till  the  clock  indicated 
that  it  was  time  to  start  for  the  hotel ;  but  they 
decided  to  repeat  the  dose  from  the  decanter,  and 
did  so. 

"  That's  the  strongest  wine  I  ever  drank,"  said 
Grossbeck. 

"  How  much  is  it?"  asked  Lynch. 

"  Let's  see  —  combien? " 

"  Un  franc  cinquajite  cetitimes^'  replied  the  waiter, 
after  he  had  glanced  at  a  gauge  on  the  decanter  which 
indicated  the  quantity  of  the  fiery  fluid  that  had  been 
consumed. 

Neither  of  them  could  understand  the  answer,  and 
Grossbeck  handed  the  gar^on  a  franc.  The  man 
shook  his  head,  and  held  out  his  hand  for  more. 
Lynch  gave  him  another  franc,  and  he  returned  a 
half  franc  piece. 

'-'- Pour  boire?  ^'  said  the  man  with  a  winning 
smile. 

"Poor  bwar !  Who's  he?"  demanded  Lynch,  in 
whose  head  the  strong  water  was  producing  its  effect. 
"  He  means  '  poor  boy.'  I  say,  Grossbeck,  does  he 
think  I'm  —  I'm  sizzled?  I  feel  so  myself.  Come, 
let's  go." 

They  rose,  and  moved  in  a  serpentine  path  to  the 
door. 

''^  Pour  bolreP"  repeated  the  gargon^  following 
them. 

"  That's  what's    the   matter.     I'm   a   poor  boy !     I 


213  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

was  a  fool  to  drink  more'n  one  nip  of  your  cam- 
phene,"  hickuped  Lynch.  "  Here,  okl  fellow,  here's  a 
lialf  of  one  of  those  francs.  Don't  sav  nothing:  more 
about  it.      I'm  a  poor  boy,  but  I   shall  get  over  it." 

The  young  tippler  handed  the  half-franc  piece  to 
the  waiter,  who  bowed,  scraped,  flourished  his  nap- 
kin, and  fled. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    313 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

THREE    CHEERS    FOR    THE    KING    OP    BELGIUM. 

I  SAY,  Grossbeck,  you  and  I  are  two  bigger  fools 
than  Napoleon  was  when  he  went  to  Russia,"  said 
Lynch,  as  they  reached  the  street  again. 

"  That's  so.  '  There  was  a  sound  of  revelry  by 
night,  and  Belgium's  capital  '  —  got  considerably 
mixed,"  replied  Grossbeck,  whose  head  was  not 
quite  so  full  as  his  companion's. 

''What  shall  we  do,  my  boy?"  stammered  Lynch. 
*■'  That  wine  was  nothing  short  of  camphene.  We 
shall  be  seen  by  the  captain,  and  we  shall  both  be 
sent  to  keep  company  with  poor  McDougal.  We've 
lost  our  mess  on  the  Josephine." 

"  Stiffen  up,  Lynch.  Don't  give  way  to  it.  What 
sort  of  a  sailor  are  you,  that  can't  bear  two  thlmble- 
fuls  of  wine?" 

"  That  wine  was  camphene,  I  tell  you.  It  feels  just 
like  a  whole  bunch  of  friction  matches  touched  off  at 
once  in  my  stomach  —  that's  so.  I'm  a  poor  boy  and 
no  mistake,  Grossbeck." 

Lynch  suddenly  stopped,  and  grasped  his  compan- 
ion by  the  arm. 

"  Wliat's  the  matter,"  demanded  Grossbeck. 

"  It's  no  use  for  me  to  drink  wine.     The  eau  de  vie 


214  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 

carries  too  many  guns  for  me.  I'll  tell  you  what  I'm 
going  to  do.     I'm  going  to  get  out  of  this  scrape." 

"  So  am  I ;  but  come  along,  or  we  shall  be  late." 

"  I'm  going  to  join  the  temperance  society,  and 
never  drink  any  more  wine  —  not  another  drop  of 
cau  de  vie  for  me." 

Lynch  evidently  felt  that  he  had  got  into  trouble 
for  nothing ;  that  the  satisfaction  of  drinking  the  fire- 
water was  very  unsatisfactory  in  the  end.  He  had 
sense  enough  left  to  see  that  disgrace  and  degrada- 
tion awaited  him,  and  he  dreaded  the  prompt  action 
of  Captain  Kendall,  as  exhibited  in  tiie  case  of 
McDougal.  While  still  suffering  from  the  effects 
of  the  tipple,  he  resolved  to  drink  no  more ;  but 
pledges  made  in  the  heat  of  intoxication  are  not  the 
most  hopeful  ones. 

The  boosy  youngsters  worried  along  the  street ;  but 
instead  of  turning  to  the  right,  into  the  Rue  de  la 
Monnaie,  they  went  straight  ahead,  and  were  soon 
lost  in  a  maze  of  narrow  streets.  They  w^ere  con- 
scious that  they  had  gone  astray,  and  looked  in  vain 
for  the  square  in  front  of  the  Tlieatre  Royal,  which 
they  had  marked  as  an  objective  point.  At  last  they 
came  across  a  solitary  policeman,  who  paused  on  his 
walk  to  observe  their  unsteady  tramp. 

"Hotel  Royal?"  said  Grossbeck,  addressing  the 
officer. 

"  Oui^^  replied  the  man,  pointing  in  the  direction 
from  which  they  had  come,  and  leading  the  way 
himself. 

In  a  few  moments  they  reached  the  square  they  had 
missed,  and  Grossbeck  recognized  the  flaming  signs 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       215 

of  a  large  clothing  store,  on  the  corner  of  the  street  in 
which  the  hotel  was  located. 

•'Thank  yon.  -I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you," 
said  he  to  the  policeman,  as  he  pointed  to  the  street. 

"  Oui^'  replied  the  officer,  solemnly,  though  the 
grateful  acknowledgments  of  the  juvenile  tippler  were 
lost  upon  him,  except  so  ^ax  as  he  could  interpret  them 
by  the  motions  of  the  speaker. 

"  I  feel  meaner  than  Napoleon  did  after  the  battle 
of  Waterloo,"  groaned  Lynch. 

"  Stiffen  up,  now.  Here's  the  hotel,"  added  Gross- 
beck. 

"Well,  what  shall  we  do?  I  can't  walk  straight, 
and  my  head  spins  round  like  a  top,"  pleaded  Lynch. 

"  Dry  up.  Starch  your  back-bone.  Here  comes  a 
lot  of  the  fellows." 

"Who  are  they?"  asked  Lynch,  trying  to  stilTen  his 
back,  and  get  the  bearings  of  his  head. 

The  party  approaching  proved  to  Idc  half  a  dozen 
of  "our  fellows,"  who  stopped,  and  immediately  dis- 
covered the  condition  of  the  two  hopefuls. 

"I  say,  iSIcKeon,  can't  you  help  us  out?"  said 
Grossbeck. 

"  Ay,  ay  ;  certainly  we  can,"  replied  "  our  fellows," 
in  concert,  as  they  gathered  closely  around  the  inelDri- 
ates,  and,  thus  encircling  them,  marched  into  the  hotel. 

"  Keep  still.  Lynch  ;  don't  say  a  word,"  whispered 
Grossbeck,  as  they  entered  the  hall,  effectually  con- 
cealed from  the  observation  of  the  officers  by  their 
companions. 

Mr.  Fluxion  stood  at  the  door,  and  checked  off  the 
names  of  the  party  as  they  entered,  on  the  list  he  held. 


2l6  DIKES   AND   DITCHES,    OR 

SO  as  to  be  sure  that  all  had  come  in.  It  was  not  an 
easy  thing  for  Lynch  to  ascend  three  flights  of  stairs ; 
but  his  companions  supported  him,  and  contrived  to 
screen  him  from  the  officers,  till  they  reached  the 
room  where  they  were  to  sleep.  The  door  was 
closed  and  fastened,  and  Grossbeck  gratefully  ac- 
knowledged the  kindness  of  his  friends  in  getting 
them  out  of   the  scrape. 

"What  did  you  drink?"  asked  McKeon. 

"  Wine,"  answered  the  tippler. 

"What  kind  of  wine?" 

"  I  don't  know  —  eau  de  vie.^'* 

"  Eau  de  vie  I "  exclaimed  Blount,  whose  knowl- 
edge of  French  was  above  the  average  of  that  of 
"our  fellows." 

"  That's  what  we  called  for,"  added  Grossbeck. 

"  And  it  was  as  strong  as  camphene,"  said  Lynch, 
as  he  tumbled  into  bed. 

"  It  was  brandy  !  "  laughed  Blount. 

The  boys  all  laughed  at  the  blunder,  and  Lynch 
repeated  his  pledge  not  to  drink  any  strong  liquors, 
wine,  or  beer  again.  Grossbeck  defended  his  conduct 
by  saying  that  he  had  heard  a  great  deal  about  the 
light  wines  of  Europe,  which  people  drank  like  water, 
and  he  did  not  suppose  a  couple  of  thimblefuls  of 
it  would  hurt  them. 

"  Call  for  vi7t  rouge  next  time,"  laughed  Blount ; 
"  that  means  red  wine,  or  claret.  It  isn't  much 
stronger  than  water." 

"  No,  sir  !  "  ejaculated  Lynch,  springing  up  in  bed, 
though  with  much  difiiculty  ;  "  I  shall  not  call  for  red 
wine,  or  anything  of  the  sort.     From  this  time,  hence* 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.       217 

forth  and  forcvermore,  I'm  a  temperance  man.  I 
won't  drink  anything  but  water,  and  only  a  little  of 
that.  I  feel  cheaper  than  Napoleon  when  he  landed 
on  the  Island  of  St.  Helena." 

The  party  turned  in,  and  in  a  short  time  all  of  them, 
tired  out  by  the  fatigues  of  the  day,  were  ftist  asleep. 
Mr.  Fluxion,  before  half  past  eleven,  had  reported  all 
the  students  in  the  house.  At  six  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing all  hands  were  turned  out,  and  several  squads  of 
them  were  exploring  the  city  on  their  own  account. 
But  it  was  not  till  after  breakfast  that  a  systematic 
excursion  was  organized.  A  number  of  omnibuses 
and  one-horse  barouches,  or  voitures^  had  been  en- 
gaged by  Mr.  Fluxion,  and,  seated  in  these,  the  ship's 
company  proceeded  to  the  Grande  Place,  which  is  a 
large  square,  with  the  Hotel  de  Ville  on  one  side, 
and  the  old  Palace,  or  Broodhuis,  on  the  other 
side. 

The  Hotel  de  Ville  is  one  of  the  most  splendid  mu- 
nicipal palaces  in  the  Low  Countries,  where  these 
structures  are  always  magnificent  specimens  of  archi- 
tecture. The  spire,  of  open  work,  in  Gothic  style, 
is  three  hundred  and  sixty-four  feet  high.  The  vane, 
which  is  a  gilded  copper  figure  of  St.  Michael,  is  sev- 
enteen feet  high.  The  building  was  erected  in  the 
fifteenth  century. 

By  the  attention  of  the  governor  of  Antwerp,  sev- 
eral officials  were  in  readiness  to  escort  the  visitors 
through  the  city  ;  and  at  their  beck  the  doors  of  public 
buildings  and  churches,  and  the  gates  of  palaces  and 
gardens,  were  thrown  open.  The  party  entered  the 
Hotel  de  Ville,  and  in  one  of  its  large  rooms  an  op- 

19 


2l8  DIKES   AND    DITCHES,    OR 

portunity  was  afforded  for  Mr.  Mapps  to  expatiate  a 
little  on  the  city  of  Brussels. 

"  Young  gentlemen,  what  is  the  French  name  of 
this  city  ?  "  asked  the  professor,  as  he  took  the  stand 
occupied  by  the  chief  magistrate  of  the  city. 

"  Bruxelles,"  responded  many  of  the  boys  ;  for  they 
had  seen  it  often  enough  upon  signs  and  in  newspa- 
pers to  know  it. 

"  Unlike  many  of  the  cities  of  Belgium  which  we 
have  before  visited,  Brussels  is  a  growing  place.  Its 
population  has  doubled  in  twenty  years,  and  now  num- 
bers about  three  hundred  thousand.  It  is  situated  on 
both  sides,  of  the  little  River  Senne,  one  hundred  and 
fifty  miles  from  Paris,  —  which  it  imitates  and  resem- 
bles in  some  degree,  —  and  twenty-seven  miles  from 
Antwerp.  It  is  built  partly  on  a  hill ;  and  the  city 
consists  of  two  portions,  called  the  upper  and  the 
lower  town,  the  latter  being  the  older  i^art,  and  con- 
taining all  the  objects  of  historic  interest.  In  the 
upper  town  are  the  Park,  the  king's  palace,  and  the 
public  offices.  The  streets  are  irregular,  narrow,  and 
crooked  ;  but  the  city  is  surrounded  by  a  broad  high- 
way, having  different  names  in  different  parts,  as  the 
Boulevard  de  Waterloo^  the  Boulevard  de  Flandre^ 
and  the  Boulevard  d^ Anvers. 

"  The  oldest  part  of  the  city  is  in  the  vicinity  of 
this  square  —  the  Graiide  Place^  in  which  the  Counts 
Egmont  and  Horn  were  beheaded  by  the  Duke  of 
Alva.  You  saw  their  statues  in  the  square.  In  this 
city,  in  an  old  palace  burned  in  1733,  Charles  V.  abdi- 
cated in  favor  of  his  son  Philip  II.  Here,  also,  was 
drawn  up  that  celebrated  document  called  the  Request. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    219 

It  was  a  petition  to  Margaret  of  Parma,  in  favor  of 
the  Protestants  of  the  Low  Countries,  of  which  you 
read  in  Motley.  It  was  presented  to  her  in  the  Hotel 
de  Cuylembourg,  where  a  prison  now  stands.  Slic 
was  somewhat  alarmed  at  the  appearance  of  the  peti- 
tioners ;  and  one  of  lier  comtiers  told  her,  in  a  whis- 
per, not  to  be  annoyed  by  the  '' giicux^  or  beggars. 
The  leader  of  the  confederates,  hearing  of  this,  re- 
garded the  epithet  bestow^ed  upon  those  who  were 
defending  the  liberties  of  their  country  as  an  honorable 
appellation,  and  the  petitioners  adopted  it  as  their  war- 
cry.  In  the  evening,  some  of  them  appeared  in  front 
of  the  palace  with  beggars'  wallets  on  their  backs,  and 
porringers  in  their  hands,  and  drank  as  a  toast,  '  Suc- 
cess to  the  Gueiixl '  Th.is  trivial  incident  proved  to  be 
one  of  the  leading:  events  of  the  revolution  which  de- 
prived  Spain  of  the  Low  Countries  ;  for  it  kindled  the 
enthusiasm  of  the  people,  and  urged  them  on  in  the 
redemption  of  their  country.  In  Motley  you  will  find 
a  full  history  of  the  '  Beggars.'  Alva  was  so  incensed 
at  the  turn  of  this  affair,  that  he  levelled  to  the  ground 
the  building  in  which  the  confederates  met. 

"  Brussels  has  long  been  celebrated  for  its  manufac- 
tures of  lace  and  carpets  ;  but  while  it  still  retains 
its  prestige  in  the  former,  it  has  been  outdone  in  the 
latter.  The  finest  and  most  valuable  lace  is  made 
here  and  in  some  of  the  neighboring  cities,  and  is  lit- 
erally worth  its  weight  in  gold.  The  most  expensive 
kind  costs  tw^o  hundred  francs  (or  forty  dollars)  a 
yard." 

Mr.  Mapps  finished  his  remarks  for  the  present,  and 
the  ships'  company  returned  to  the  carriages,  and  were 


220  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

driven  to  the  Place  des  Martyrs,  where  there  is  a  large 
monument  erected  to  the  memory  of  three  hundred 
Belgians,  who  fell  in  the  Revolution  of  1S30,  which 
made  Belgium  an  independent  kingdom.  From  this 
point  they  passed  into  the  broad  Boulevards  to  the 
Botanical  Gardens,  which,  however,  they  did  not 
enter,  but  continued  up  the  hill  to  the  Park,  a  large 
enclosure,  beautifully  laid  out,  and  ornamented  with 
statues.  In  one  corner  of  it  is  the  Theatre  du  Pare, 
while  in  the  square  which  surrounds  it  are  located  the 
king's  palace,  the  palace  of  the  Prince  of  Orange,  the 
Chamber  of  Representatives,  and  other  public  build- 
ings. The  students  visited  the  king's  palace  ;  —  but 
his  majesty  usually  resides  at  Laeken,  and  the  estab- 
lishment represents  royalty  on  a  small  scale  —  and  the 
Chamber  of  Representatives,  in  which  the  two  branch- 
es of  the  Belgian  legislature  convene.  In  the  latter, 
a  woman  showed  them  the  Chambers,  pointing  out 
some  fine  pictures,  including  portraits  of  the  king  and 
queen,  and  the  Battle  of  Waterloo,  explaining  every- 
thing in  French. 

"  Where  shall  I  find  the  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs, 
Mr.  Stoute?"  asked  Professor  Hamblin,  nervous  and 
excited  at  the  near  prospect  of  standing  face  to  face 
before  the  great  man  of  Belgium,  and  of  being  com- 
plimented upon  his  great  educational  works. 

"  I  don't  know  ;  but  his  office  must  be  somewhere 
in  this  vicinity,"  replied  the  fat  professor,  laughing  at 
the  excitement  of  his  associate. 

One  of  the  olficials  in  charge  of  the  party  volun- 
teered to  conduct  them  to  the  apartment  of  the  distin- 
guished revolutionist. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    321 

"  You  must  come  with  mc,  Mr.  »Stoutc,*'  said  the 
professor  of  Greek.  ''  If  it  turns  out  that  Mr.  Rogier 
don't  speak  EngHsh,  I  should  be  in  an  unfortunate 
dilemma." 

"  I  will  go  with  you  with  pleasure,"  laughed  Mr. 
Stoute,  who  was  rather  desirous  of  witnessing  the 
interview. 

They  were  conducted  to  the  apartments  of  the  dis- 
tinguished minister,  and  formally  and  ceremoniously 
ushered  into  his  presence.  He  bowed,  and  regarded 
his  visitors  with  cool  indiflerence. 

"  Whom  have  I  the  honor  to  address?"  asked  the 
minister,  in  good  English,  when  Mr.  Hamblin  had 
made  his  best  bow. 

"  I  am  Professor  Hamblin,  from  the  United  States, 
at  your  service,"  replied  the  learned  gentleman,  who 
seemed  to  believe  that  this  announcement  would 
bring  the  Belgian  statesman  to  his  feet,  if  not  to  his 
arms  —  the  professor's. 

"  Ah,  indeed  !  "  replied  the  minister,  blankly. 

"  I  had  the  pleasure  of  receiving  a  note  from  you 
at  Antwerp,"  added  the  American  celebrity,  annoyed 
at  the  coolness  of  the  revolutionist. 

"  A  note  from  me  !  "  exclaimed  the  Belgian  celeb- 
rity, curtly.  "I  never  saw  you  or  heard  of  you  before 
in  my  life." 

Mr.  Hamblin  produced  the  formidable  envelope, 
and  drew  therefrom  the  epistle  of  sweet  savor,  which 
had  been  such  a  comfort  to  him  in  his  troubles.  He 
presented  it  to  the  minister,  satisfied  that  this  would 
recall  the  matter  to  his  recollection. 

''  This  note  is  not  from   me.     I  did  not  write  it," 
J9  * 


222  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

said  the  Belgian,  when  he  had  ghmced  hastily  at  the 
page. 

"  Really,  I  beg  your  excellency's  pardon  ;  but  it  is 
signed  with  your  name." 

"  It  is  a  forgery  —  what  you  Americans  call  a  prac- 
tical joke,  probably.  I  haven't  been  in  Antwer23  for 
months." 

There  was  an  apj^arent  convulsion  in  the  fat  frame 
of  Mr.  Stoute,  who  was  evidently  struggling  to  sup- 
press his  mirtli,  or  keep  it  within  decent  limits. 

"  I  am  very  sorry,  sir,"  stammered  Mr.  Hamblin. 

"  The  letter  is  an  imposition,  sir.  I  never  heard  of 
you  before  in  my  life,"  added  the  great  Belgian,  toss- 
ing the  note  back  to  the  professor,  with  an  impatience 
which  indicated  that  he  never  wished  to  see  him 
again. 

That  vision  had  exploded  —  no  invitation  to  dinner, 
none  to  visit  the  king,  none  to  accept  the  position  of 
Librarian  of  the  Greek  portion  of  the  Royal  Library, 
whose  only  duty  was  to  consist  in  drawing  his  salary. 
Mr.  Hamblin  bowed,  and  so  far  conformed  to  his 
original  programme  as  to  back  out  of  the  office. 
Doubtless  he  came  to  the  conclusion,  in  his  disgust, 
that  Belgium  was  a  "one-horse"  kingdom,  and  that 
royalty  was  a  humbug. 

The  vision  exploded ;  so  did  the  mirth  of  Mr. 
Stoute,  as  soon  as  the  door  of  the  department  of 
foreign  affairs  had  closed  behind  him.  He  laughed 
till  every  ounce  of  his  adipose  frame  quivered. 

"What  are  you  laughing  at,  Mr.  Stoute?"  de- 
manded the  disappointed  suitor  for  Belgian  honors. 

"  You  will  excuse  me,  sir ;  but  really  I  can't  help 
it,"  choked  the  fat  professor. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    223 

"  I  really  don't  see  anything  to  laugh  at,"  added 
Mr.  Haniblin,  indignantly. 

"  I  was  intensely  amused  at  the  shuffling  indiBer- 
ence  of  Monsieur  Rogier.  He  evidently  regards  him- 
self as  a  very  great  man,  not  to  be  disturbed  by  insig- 
niticant  Greek  scholars." 

'■'■  What  do  you  mean  by  Insignljicant^  Mr.  Stoute  ?  " 
asked  the  lean  professor,  solemnly. 

"  Why,  the  minister  had  never  even  heard  of  you, 
of  your  Greek  Grammar,  Greek  Reader,  and  Anabasis. 
Such  is  fame  !  "  chuckled  the  good-natured  instructor. 

"  '  What  we  Americans  call  a  practical  joke,'  were 
the  words  of  the  minister.  Do  you  regard  this  as  a 
joke,  Mr.  Stoute  ?  "  said  the  learned  gentleman,  very 
seriously. 

"  I  suppose  it  is  a  joke  to  all,  except  the  victim." 

''  Do  you  know  anything  about  the  author  of  this 
senseless  piece  of  imposition?  " 

''  Certainly  not.  I  had  not  the  least  idea  that  the 
ponderous  document  was  not  genuine  till  his  excel- 
lency pronounced  it  a  forgery." 

''  Who  could  have  done  this?  " 

"  Some  of  the  students,  probably." 

^'  Probably,"  replied  the  professor,  taking  the  note 
from  his  pocket  again,  and  carefully  scanning  the 
handwriting.  "  I  have  no  doubt  it  was  done  by  one 
of  the  students.  It  is  another  of  their  infamous  tricks 
—  the  fourth  that  has  been  put  upon  me.  Do  the 
other  instructors  sufier  in  this  manner?  " 

"  I  have  not  heard  of  any  other  victims,  and  I  am 
inclined  to  think  you  are  the  only  one." 

''  I   do   not  see  why   I   should   be   selected   as  the 


234  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

recipient  of  these  silly  and  ridiculous,  not  to  say 
wicked,  tricks.  A  rope  falls  on  7ny  head,  /  am 
pitched  into  the  river,  drenched  with  dirty  water,  and 
now  sent  on  a  fool's  errand  to  the  king's  chief  minis- 
ter !     I  don't  understand  why  I  am  the  only  sufferer." 

Professor  Stoute  did  understand  why  Mr.  Hamblin 
had  been  so  frequently  sacrificed,  but  he  had  a  habit 
of  minding  his  own  business,  and  did  not  venture  to 
give  an  opinion  on  the  subject,  which  probably  would 
not  have  been  well  received.  What  the  fat  professor 
knew  all  the  boys  in  the  Josephine,  and  most  of  those 
in  the  Young  America,  knew  —  that  the  cold,  stiff, 
haughty,  tyrannical,  overbearing  manner  of  the  lean 
professor  had  made  him  exceedingly  unpopular  ;  tliat 
the  students  disliked  him  even  to  the  degree  of  hating 
him  ;  that  if  he  had  ever  had  any  influence  with  them, 
he  had  lost  it  by  his  ridiculous  sternness  and  stupid 
precision.  Mr.  Hamblin  did  not  know  this,  but  ever} - 
body  else  did. 

"Don't  you  know  this  writing,  Mr.  Stoute?"  de- 
manded the  irate  man  of  Greek  roots,  after  an  atten- 
tive study  of  the  note. 

"  I  do  not." 

"  I  do  !  "  added  Mr.  Hamblin,  decidedly. 

"  You  are  fortunate  then.  If  we  can  unearth  the 
culprit,  he  will  be  severely  punished." 

"  I  am  not  so  clear  on  that  point.  This  note  was 
written  by  Captain  Kendall." 

"  Impossible  !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Stoute,  seizing  the 
note,  and  examining  more  attentively  than  he  had 
done  before  the  writing  it  contained. 

It  did  look  like   Paul's  writing.     It  was  his  style, 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    225 

and  there  were  not  more  than  two  students  in  tlie  Jo- 
sephine who  could  have  composed  the  French  in  the 
document.  Those  two  were  Paul  and  Duncan.  But 
Mr.  Stoute  was  unwilling  to  believe  that  the  captain 
would  resort  to  such  a  proceeding. 

'^  I  shall  charge  him  with  it,"  added  Mr.  Hamblin. 

"  I  advise  you  not  to  do  it  without  more  evidence 
than  you  have  yet  obtained,'*  said  Mr.  Stoute,  seri- 
ously. 

"  After  we  return  to  the  vessel  I  shall  probably  be 
able  to  obtain  some  proof,"  continued  Mr.  Hamblin, 
as  he  put  the  letter  in  his  pocket. 

When  they  went  to  look  for  the  rest  of  the  party, 
they  found  them  forming  a  line  in  the  square.  Pres- 
ent with  Mr.  Lowington  was  his  excellency,  the  gov- 
ernor of  Antwerp,  who  had  just  invited  the  company 
to  visit  the  palace  gardens.  In  even  lines,  with  the 
officers  in  their  proper  places,  the  procession  marched 
across  the  park  and  through  the  gates,  at  which  a  file 
of  Belgian  soldiers  presented  arms  to  them.  In  the 
garden  they  formed  a  line  on  one  of  the  walks.  Near 
the  palace,  walking  to  and  fro,  was  an  old  gentleman, 
but  still  erect  and  manly,  with  a  glittering  decoration 
on  his  breast.  Several  other  persons,  most  of  them 
dressed  in  uniform,  or  decked  with  orders,  were  stand- 
ing near  the  old  gentleman. 

Presently  the  governor  of  Antwerp  approached  the 
ship's  company,  attended  by  an  officer  to  whom  Mr. 
Lowington  was  introduced.  The  three  then  walked 
towards  the  old  gentleman,  to  whom  the  principal  was 
presented.  The  venerable  personage  bowed  gracefully, 
but  did  not  offer  to  shake  hands,  or  indulge  in  any 
republican  familiarities. 


226  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 

''That's  the  King  of  Belgium,"  said  Dr.  Winstock 
to  Paul,  as  the  principal  and  the  venerable  person  ap- 
proached the  line,  followed  by  the  officials. 

"The  king!"  exclaimed  Paul,  taken  all  aback  by 
the  announcement ;  and  this  was  the  first  time  he  had 
ever  looked  upon  a  live  monarch.  "  He  seems  just 
like  any  other  man  ;  what  shall  we  do?" 

"  Give  him  three  Yankee  cheers,"  replied  the  doc- 
tor. 

Captain  Kendall  spoke  to  the  flag-officer  and  to 
Captain  Haven. 

'•'•  Three  cheers  for  his  majesty  the  King  of  Belgi- 
um !  "  called  Flag-officer  Gordon. 

They  were  given  with  a  will,  but  the  "tiger"  was 
omitted  in  deference  to  royalty.  King  Leopold  grace- 
fully and  graciously  acknowledged  the  salute  by  touch- 
ing his  hat,  and  then  walked  up  and  down  the  line, 
inspecting  the  ship's  company.  Mr.  Lowington,  hat 
in  hand,  walked  just  behind  him.  His  majesty  then 
took  position  in  front  of  the  line,  and  the  students 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  he  was  going  to  make  a 
speech  ;  but  he  did  not :  he  spoke  to  Mr.  Lowington 
again,  who  went  to  the  line  and  called  out  the  flag- 
officer  and  the  two  captains. 

"  You  are  to  be  presented  to  the  king ;  don't  speak 
unless  you  are  asked  a  question,  and  don't  turn  your 
back  to  him,"  said  Mr.  Lowington  in  a  low  tone. 

Paul  was  startled  at  the  idea  of  being  presented  to 
King  Leopold,  but  he  followed  his  companions,  and 
in  due  time  was  with  them  handed  over  to  the  gentle- 
man who  had  presented  the  principal,  and  who  proved 
to  be  the  irrand  chamberlain, 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    23; 

'^  Captain  Kendall,  con-imandcr  of  the  Josephine," 
said  the  gentleman,  when  Paul's  turn  came. 

Paul  bowed,  blushing  up  to  the  eyes,  when  he  be- 
came conscious  that  the  royal  gaze  was  fixed  upon 
him  ;  but  he  had  self-possession  enough  not  to  overdo 
the  matter,  and  his  salute  was  as  dignified  and  grace- 
ful as  that  of  majesty  iiself.  The  king  smiled  when 
he  saw  the  fine  form  and  handsome  face  of  the  junior 
captain. 

"Do  you  command  a  ship?"  asked  his  majesty, 
surveying  the  young  officer  from  head  to  foot,  with  a 
pleasant  smile  on  his  face. 

"  I  command  the  Josephine,  your  majesty  ;  she  is 
not  a  ship,  but  a  topsail  schooner  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  tons,"  replied  Paul,  satisfied  that  kings  speak 
just  like  other  men. 

"  You  are  very  young  to  command  a  \essel  of  that 
size,"  added  the  king. 

Paul  bowed,  but  made  no  reply,  as  no  question  was 
asked. 

"Can  you  manage  her  in  a  gale?"  asked  his  ma- 
jesty. 

"  I  think  I  can,  your  majesty  ;  at  least  I  have  done 
so  within  a  week  on  the  coast  of  your  majesty's  do- 
minions." 

The  king  actually  laughed  at  this  confident  reply. 
As  he  bowed  slightly,  Paul,  for  the  first  time  in  his 
life,  backed  out,  and  continued  to  back  till  he  reached 
his  station  at  the  head  of  the  Josephines.  The  king 
then  bowed  to  the  whole  line,  and  retired.  As  he 
did   so,    Flag-officer    Gordon    called    for    three    more 


228  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

cheers.  The  king  turned  and  bowed  again.  This 
time  the  snapper,  in  the  form  of  the  tiger,  was  ap- 
pHed,  which  so  astonished  the  royal  personage  that  he 
turned  once  more,  laughed,  and  bowed. 

Professor  Hamblin  looked  very  nervous  and  discon- 
tented. "  That  boy  "  had  been  presented  to  the  king, 
and  he,  who  had  compiled  a  Greek  Grammar,  a  Greek 
Reader,  and  edited  the  Anabasis,  had  been  "  left  out  in 
the  cold."  If  it  was  possible  for  a  great  mind  like 
that  of  the  savant  to  harbor  such  a  vicious  feeling  as 
envy,  he  certainly  envied  Paul  Kendall  his  brief  inter- 
view with  the  King  of  the  Belgians. 

The  party  retired  from  the  garden,  and  returned  to 
the  carriages.  It  appeared  in  explanation  of  this  un- 
expected honor,  that  the  governor  of  Antwerp  had 
waited  on  the  king  that  day,  and  informed  him  casu- 
ally of  the  presence  of  the  students  of  the  academy 
squadron  in  the  capital,  and  he  had  expressed  a  desire 
to  see  them  in  a  very  informal  manner.  Mr.  Lowing- 
ton  was  no  "  flunky,"  and  never  sought  admission  to 
the  presence  of  royalty,  for  himself  or  his  pupils. 

x\s  the  procession  of  omnibuses  and  fiacres  moved 
down  to  the  lower  town,  they  were  thrown  into  great 
excitement  by  seeing  many  of  the  streets  and  houses 
dressed  with  flags  and  other  devices.  On  inquiring 
at  the  hotel,  Mr.  Molenschot  informed  Paul  that  it 
was  a  saint's  day,  and  that  a  religious  procession  would 
march  through  some  of  the  principal  streets. 

"  Go  down  into  the  Boulevard  d' An  vers,  and  you 
will  have  a  good  chance  to  see  the  show,"  added  the 
landlord. 

'^What  is  it?" 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    229 

"  O,  it  is  really  very  fine  and  very  grand  ;  but  go  at 
once,  or  vou  will  he  too  late." 

The  students  were  permitted  to  go  to  the  street  indi- 
cated, and  they  had  hardly  secured  a  good  place  before 
they  heard  martial  music,  playing  a  solemn  dirge. 
20 


230  DIKES   AND    DITCHES,    OR 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


THE    VICE-PRINCIPAL. 


A  CROWD  of  people  preceded  the  procession, 
as  it  came  out  of  the  Rue  de  Laeken  into  the 
Boulevard  d'Anvers.  At  the  head  of  it  marched  the 
military  band,  and  the  coi'tege  was  flanked  by  soldiers 
of  the  Belgian  army,  indicating  that  the  government 
felt  an  interest  in  the  display.  The  students  were  on 
the  tiptoe  of  excitement  at  the  novel  spectacle  ;  and 
Paul  asked  his  friend,  the  doctor,  a  great  many  ques- 
tions which  he  could  not  answer.  The  composition 
and  order  of  the  jjrocession  were  very  nearly  as  fol- 
lows :  — 

A  man  bearing  a  cross  on  a  pole. 

Banner. 

Little  girls  dressed  in  white,  with  flowers  in  their  hands. 

Little  boys. 

Banner. 

Image  of  the  Virgin  borne  by  four  men. 

A  lamb,  very  white  and  clean,  led  by  a  string,  and 

decorated  with  red  ribbons,  witli  boys  on  each 

side,  carrying  various  emblems. 

Young  ladies  in  white. 

Another  image  of  the  Virgin. 


'J 


>      )    i  >  '    '     '   ^  >      '    ' 


etc 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    2^1 

About  twenty  priests,  in   white   muslin  robes,  and   in 

satin  robes  trimmed  with  gold. 

Two  boys  with  censers. 

vSilken  canopy,  borne  by  four  men,  under  whicli  walked 

two  ecclesiastics,  in  full  costume   one 

bearing  the  Host. 

The  canopy  was  surrounded  by  men  carrj-ing 
lanterns  with  silver  framework,  and  of  peculiar  con- 
struction. The  censers,  as  they  were  swung  backward 
and  forward  by  the  bearers,  emitted  a  dense  smoke, 
which  rose  far  above  the  procession,  and  marked  its 
progress. 

As  the  coi'tege  ajDproached  the  spot  where  the  bovs 
stood,  the  band  ceased  playing,  and  the  priests  began 
to  chant  the  mass  to  the  accomj^animent  of  a  single 
base  horn.  The  procession  moved  very  slowly,  and 
the  rich  voices  of  the  priests,  mingling  with  the  heavy 
notes  of  the  horn,  produced  an  effect  solemn  and  im- 
pressive even  on  the  minds  of  those  whose  religious 
education  did  not  jDrepare  them  to  appreciate  such  a 
display. 

As  the  host  approached,  hundreds  of  the  crowd  in 
the  street  knelt  reverently  upon  the  pavement,  and 
bowed  their  heads  before  the  sacred  emblems.  Wo- 
men and  children  strewed  the  path  of  the  procession 
with  flowers,  green  branches,  or,  in  the  absence  of 
these,  with  handfuls  of  colored  joaper  cut  into  minute 
pieces.  Indeed,  the  street,  in  places,  was  literally 
covered  with  these  votive  offerings  of  the  people,  who 
had  no  other  means  of  testifying  their  reverence  for  the 
ceremonic'' 


232  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

The  line  filed  into  tlie  Rue  Longne  Neuve,  which 
was  extensively  decorated  with  flags,  streamers,  and 
other  national  and  religious  emblems.  In  many  win- 
dows burned  a  line  of  candles,  in  some  cases  before  a 
crucifix.  In  this  street  the  procession  halted,  and 
several  of  the  priests  moved  up  an  arch  forming  the 
entrance  to  one  of  the  better  residences.  In  this  recess 
an  altar  had  been  erected,  and  was  covered  with  all 
the  emblems  of  the  Catholic  faith.  The  priests  knelt 
before  it,  and  chanted  a  portion  of  the  service,  and 
then  returned  to  the  procession,  which  continued  its 
march  up  the  street ;  the  flowers  and  bits  of  colored 
paper  filling  the  air  before  it,  and  the  people  still  rev- 
erentlv  bowing  down  to  the  host.  The  solemn  and 
impressive  chanting  of  the  priests  kindled  the  pious 
enthusiasm  of  the  multitude,  and  as  the  line  passed 
the  cafes  and  estaminets^  or  smoking  houses,  the 
i^ipe,  the  drink,  and  the  gay  jest  were  abandoned,  to 
pay  homage  to  the  faith  of  the  nation. 

The  faces  of  the  little  children  and  the  white-robed 
maidens  in  the  procession  presented  an  aspect  of  re- 
ligious enthusiasm,  solemn  but  not  sad,  which  young 
people  seldom  wear.  Everybody  seemed  to  be  car- 
ried away  by  the  excitement  of  the  scene  ;  all  hats 
were  removed,  and  the  utmost  respect  was  paid  to  the 
representatives  and  to  the  emblems  of  the  church  in 
the  line. 

As  Paul  and  his  friend  followed  the  spectacle  up  the 
street,  they  saw  a  Beguine  nun  kneeling  at  the  altar  in 
the  arch,  wringing  her  hands  in  an  ecstasy  of  devotion, 
while  several  women  were  regarding  her  with  an  ad- 
miring reverence,  which  seemed  to  indicate  that  they 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IX    HOLLAND    AXD    BELGIUM.    233 

envied   her   the   enjoyment   of   the    heavenly   raptures 
which   tlirilled   her. 

'^  It  is  verv  solemn  — isn't  it?"  said  Paul,  when  they 
had  passed  out  of  hearing  of  the  procession. 

"  It  is  really  moving,  even  while  you  have  no  sym- 
pathy with  the  church  which  makes  these  displays." 

"  I  tliink  I  was  never  more  moved  in  my  life  than  I 
was  by  the  chanting  of  those  priests.  But  wliat  is  the 
occasion  of  all  this?  " 

"  I  don't  know ;  except  that  this  is  some  saint's 
day  —  vSt.  James,  I  believe  ;  but  there  is  something  of 
this  kind  in  Brussels  nearly  every  Sunday ;  and  I 
have  seen  several  minor  displays  in  the  streets  in  the 
evening." 

"  I  am  surprised  to  see  how^  much  respect  the  peo- 
ple pay  to  their  religion.  If  they  have  these  displays 
often,  I  should  think  they  would  become  stale." 

"  It  appears  they  do  not.  I  have  a  great  deal  more 
consideration  and  respect  for  these  exhibitions  in  Bel- 
gium than  in  some  other  parts  of  Europe,  for  the 
reason  that  all  religions  enjoy  the  utmost  toleration 
here.  The  people  are  almost  exclusively  Catholic, 
and  yet  they  permit  Protestants  and  Jews  entire  free- 
dom in  the  exercise  of  their  religion,  and  pay  them 
their  fair  share  of  the  government  money." 

At  two  o'clock  dinner  was  ready  at  the  Hotel  Royal ; 
and  it  need  not  be  added  that  the  boys  also  were  ready. 
Half  an  hour  later  the  whole  party  had  been  loaded 
into  stage-coaches,  which,  in  an  hour  and  a  half,  set 
them  down  on  the  battle-field  of  Waterloo.  For 
two  hours  they  wandered  about  the  field,  or  rather  up 
and  down  the  two  principal  roads  which  pass  through 
20  * 


234  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 

it.  On  the  highest  ground  of  the  field,  where  there 
is  u  mound  two  hundred  feet  high,  surmounted  by  the 
Belgic  Lion,  Mr.  MapjDS  gave  a  brief  account  of  tl.e 
great  battle,  pointing  out  the  spots  of  the  greatest  in- 
terest, including  the  road  by  which  Blucher  arrived. 
The  subject  is  too  vast  for  these  pages  ;  but  it  will  be 
alluded  to  in  the  summary  of  French  history  in  a  sub- 
sequent volume. 

There  are  several  monuments,  and  columns,  and  obe- 
lisks on  the  battle-field,  which  mark  the  fall  of  distin- 
guished men  or  their  burial-places.  Beneath  the  great 
mound  are  buried  thousands  of  all  the  armies  repre- 
sented in  this  historical  conflict,  which  settled,  for  a 
time,  the  fate  of  Europe.  The  field  is  the  harvest- 
ground  of  a  multitude  of  beggars,  relic-hunters,  and 
guides,  who  bore  visitors  almost  to  death  with  old 
buttons,  musty  rags,  flattened  bullets,  bones,  and  other 
articles,  which  they  produce  as  keepsakes  of  the  battle. 
Tiie  stock  of  these  things  probably  fiiiled  long  ago, 
and  the  traveller  may  well  be  suspicious  of  the  genu- 
ineness of  anything  which  may  be  oflered  to  him  by 
these  leeches. 

At  six  the  stages  conveyed  the  tourists  to  the  Groen- 
endael  vStation,  on  the  railway  to  Namur,  where  they 
arrived  after  a  ritle  of  an  hour,  express  time.  This 
place  is  the  "  Belgian  Sheffield,"'  being  largely  engaged 
in  the  manufacturing  of  arms,  cutlery,  and  hardware. 
Its  vicinity  contains  rich  mines  of  iron,  coal,  and  mar- 
ble. Many  battles  and  sieges  have  occurred  in  this 
place  ;  and  Don  John  of  Austria,  sent  by  Philip  II.  to 
subdue  the  country,  was  buried  here.  The  city  con- 
tains a  population  of  twenty-six  thousand,  and  is  beau- 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    235 

tifully  locututl  at  the  junction  of  the  Meuse  and  vSaml)re 
Rivers.  The  train  stopped  here  but  an  hour  ;  and  the 
students  roamed  through  some  of  the  principal  streets, 
which,  liowever,  were  too  much  hke  those  of  phiccs 
they  had  visited  before  to  excite  any  especial  interest. 

Two  hours  later,  they  arrived  at  Liege,  which  was 
to  be  the  eastern  limit  of  the  excursion.  As  before, 
Mr.  Fluxion  had  preceded  them,  and  engaged  accom- 
modations at  the  hotels.  The  students  were  very 
tired,  and  not  disposed  to  explore  the  city  of  the  bish- 
ops that  night.  Before  breakfast  on  the  following 
morning,  Mr.  MapjDs  gave  them  the  history  and  other 
interesting  particulars  relating  to  the  city,  when  they 
had  assembled  in  the  old  citadel -of  St.  Walburg,  which 
ov'erlooks  the  town. 

"  Liege,  whose  Flemish  name  is  Liiik^  contains  one 
hundred  and  nine  thousand  inhabitants,  who  are  prin- 
cipally concerned  in  the  various  manufactures  of  iron, 
and  especially  in  the  making  of  cannon  and  arms," 
said  the  professor.  "  I  observed  to  you  before,  that  this 
part  of  the  country  bears  some  resemblance  to  New 
England.  As  you  have  an  opportunity  to  observe  for 
yourselves,  the  scenery  is  very  fine,  but  rather  of  the 
pleasant  and  quiet  description. 

"  The  province  of  Liege,  of  which  this  city  is  the 
capital,  was  formerly  governed  b}'  a  line  of  bishops  :  and 
those  of  you  who  have  read  Scott's  Qtientin  Durward 
will  remember  William  de  la  Marck,  the  Wild  Boar 
of  Ardennes,  whose  adventures  are  located  in  this  vi- 
cinity. In  tiie  tenth  century,  the  bishops  of  Liege  were 
made  sovereigns  by  the  German  emperor,  and  received 
the   name  of  Prince-Bishops.      But   the  burghers  of 


236  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 

Liege,  like  those  of  Ghent,  had  a  will  and  a  way  01 
their  own,  and  freqiientl}-  rebelled  against  the  bishops, 
in  support  of  their  rights;  and  Charles  the  Bold  took 
the  rulers  under  his  protection.  Still  they  persisted  in 
revolting,  and  Charles  destroyed  the  city,  as  a  punish- 
ment, in  146S.  Fifteen  years  later,  William  de  la 
JNIarck  murdered  the  prince-bishop,  in  order  to  obtain 
the  mitre-crown  for  his  son.  This  was  the  besfinning: 
of  the  insurrection,  in  which,  as  I  have  related  to  you 
before,  Charles  the  Bold  compelled  the  king  of  France 
to  march   against  the  rebels. 

"  The  place  was  subsequently  captured  by  the 
French  ;  the  bishops  were  expelled  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  French  Revolution,  but  were  restored 
by  the  Austrians  two  years  later.  In  1794  it  was 
annexed  to  France  ;  but  after  the  battle  of  Waterloo 
it  was  incorporated  into  the  new  kingdom  of  the 
Netherlands.  In  1S30  the  old  spirit  of  the  burghers 
of  Lioge  revived,  and  they  were  among  the  foremost 
promoters  of  the  Belgian  Revolution." 

The  students  descended  from  the  heights,  whose 
fortresses  command  the  city,  took  an  outside  view  of 
the  Hotel  de  Ville,  several  churches,  and  other  public 
buildings,  and  breakfasted  at  nine.  Though  they  had 
by  no  means  exhausted  the  cit}',  the  time  would  not 
permit  a  further  examination.  The  train  was  ready 
for  them  ;  and  their  next  stop  was  at  Louvain,  which, 
like  Ghent  and  Bruges,  had  dwindled  down  from  a 
population  of  two  hundred  thousand  to  thirty-three 
thousand.  It  contains  a  magnificent  town  hall,  deco- 
rated in  the  most  elaborate  stvle. 

From  Louvain  the  party  hurried  on  to   Mechlin,  or 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    237 

Malines,  a  picturesque  old  city,  still  famous  for  its  fine 
lace.  It  is  about  the  size  of  Louvain,  and,  like  that, 
presents  a  deserted  appearance,  being  only  the  shadow 
of  its  former  greatness.  Its  principal  object  of  inter- 
est to  the  tourist  is  the  Cathedral  of  St.  Romuald,  a 
structure  of  the  fifteenth  century,  and,  like  the  great 
churches  at  Cologne  and  Antvverjo,  still  unfinished. 
It  was  built  with  money  obtained  by  the  sale  of  the 
po^oe's  indulgences,  which,  happily,  "  gave  out  "  at  last. 
Its  spire,  which  was  to  have  been  six  hundred  and  forty 
feet  high,  remains  incomplete,  at  little  more  than  half 
this  height,  which,  however,  is  only  eighteen  feet  less 
than  tlie  cross  on  St.  Paul's,  in  London.  The  church 
is  an  immense  structure,  said  to  cover  nearlv  two 
acres  of  ground.  It  is  the  cathedral  of  the  Belgian 
archbishop,  or  primate. 

"  There,  Paul,  we  have  finished  Belgium,"  said  Dr. 
Winstock,  as  the  train  started  for  Antwerp. 

"  I  am  glad  of  it ;  for  I  am  tired  of  sight-seeing.  It 
seems  to  me  now  that  I  have  no  desire  to  see  another 
Cathedral,  Hotel  de  Ville,  or  Grande  Place,"  replied 
Paul,  languidly,  as  he  settled  himself  back  in  his  seat. 

''  A  new  country  will  wake  you  up,"  laughed  the 
doctor.  "  I  suppose  we  shall  be  in  Rotterdam  to- 
morrow." 

"  I  hope  so,  though  I  don't  know  but  I  should  like 
blue  water  better  than  being  shut  up  in  these  rivers 
and  canals." 

"  You  will  get  blue  water  enough  before  the  season 
is  ended." 

In  half  an  hour  from  Malines.  the  train  reached  Ant- 
werp.    Mr,   Fluxion   had   arrived   before ;    and  there 


238  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 

were  two  tugs  at  the  Qiiai  Vandyck,  which  had  been 
employed  to  tow  the  vessels  down  the  river.  They 
conveyed  the  students  on  board,  and  the  orders  for 
sailing  were  given  immediately. 

Mr.  Hamblin,  who  had  not  yet  recovered  from  his 
disappointment,  hastened  to  the  cabin.  He  com- 
menced a  diligent  search  for  joapers  written  by  tlie 
captain,  in  order  to  compare  their  penmanship  with 
that  of  the  forged  note.  As  Mr.  Stoute  had  been 
compelled  to  acknowledge,  there  was  a  general  re- 
semblance between  the  handwriting  of  Paul  and  that 
of  the  unknown  scribbler  of  the  note.  Though  a 
minute  comparison  failed  to  establish  any  closer  con- 
nection between  them,  the  professor  wanted  to  make 
out  his  point;  and  it  was  not  difficult  for  him  to  find 
a  particular  similarit}'. 

Paul  was  busy  on  deck,  getting  the  Josephine  under 
weigh,  and  Mr.  Hamblin  had  the  cabin  to  liimself  for 
his  investigation.  The  stamp  on  the  paper  of  the 
fictitious  note  had  already  excited  his  attention,  and 
he  took  the  liberty  to  enter  Paul's  state-room,  in  search 
of  some  like  it.  He  opened  the  upper  drawer  of  the 
bureau,  which  formed  a  writing-table  when  the  front 
was  dropped.  The  first  object  that  attracted  his  atten- 
tion was  a  package  of  paper  of  the  size,  and  appar- 
ently of  the  quality,  he  sought.  He  picked  up  a  quire 
of  it,  and  a  smile  of  vindictive  satisfaction  played  upon 
his  wrinkled  fiice,  as  he  discovered  upon  it  the  identi- 
cal stamp  of  the  forged  note. 

His  case  was  made  out,  and  great  was  his  joy. 
Paul  would  certainly  be  disgraced  and  removed  for 
such  an  outrage  as  a  practical  joke  upon  one  of  the 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND   vVND    BELGIUM.    239 

most  dignified  instructors  in  the  squadron.  Wc  must 
do  Mr.  Ilamblin  the  justice  to  say,  that  he  did  not 
wish  to  prove  any  more  than  he  believed  to  be  true  ; 
but  it  is  very  easy  for  a  prejudiced  person  to  beheve 
a  great  deal  against  one  who  has  oflended  him.  A 
student  who  was  not  fond  of  Greek  could  not  be  a 
very  noble,  or  even  a  very  upright  one  ;  and  he  was 
confident  that,  when  Paul's  true  character  became 
known,  when  he  was  no  longer  stimulated  to  great 
deeds  by  his  high  office,  he  would  prove  to  be  a  very 
different  person  from  what  he  now  appeared  to  be. 

Mr.  Hamblin  confiscated  a  half  quire  of  the  paper, 
and  secured  several  French  exercises  written  by  Cap- 
tain Kendall,  to  be  used  as  evidence  against  him.  He 
then  searched  the  vessel  for  similar  paper  in  the  pos- 
session of  other  students,  but  found  none.  He  went 
on  deck,  to  ascertain  what  was  to  be  done  ;  for  Mr. 
Lowington  had  assured  him  he  would  not  be  any 
longer  obliged  to  sail  in  the  same  vessel  with  the  ob- 
noxious student.  A  boat  from  the  ship  was  alongside, 
and  Mr.  Fluxion  had  just  stepped  on  board.  The 
boatsw^ain  was  hoisting  his  baggage  out  of  the  boat, 
which  indicated  that  he  was  to  remain. 

Paul  was  reading  an  order  just  handed  to  him  by 
Mr.  Fluxion,  which  aj^peared  to  settle  the  difficulty 
between  him  and  the  learned  professor.  .  The  order 
was  in  these  words  :  — 

Mr.  James  E.  Fluxion  is  hereby  appointed  vice- 
principal  of  the  academy  squadron,  and  will  be 
obeyed  and  respected  accordingly. 

Mr.  Fluxion  is  also  hereby  instructed  temjDorarily 


240  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

to  discharge  the  duties  of  Professor  of  Greek,  Latin, 
and  IMathematics,  on  board  of  the  Josephine. 

R.  LowiNGTON,  PrhicipaL 

The  new  vice-principal  handed  a  note  to  Mr.  Ham- 
blin  as  he  came  upon  deck,  in  which  he  was  directed 
to  repair,  with  his  baggage,  on  board  of  the  ship. 
The  learned  gentleman  was  not  quite  satisfied  with 
this  arrangement.     It  looked  a  little  ominous. 

"  Have  you  no  order  for  Captain  Kendall,  Mr. 
Fluxion?"  he  asked,  as  the  vice-principal  waited  for 
him  to  read  his  letter. 

"  I  iiave  given  him  an  order  from  the  principal." 

"  Is  he  not  directed  to  go  on  board  of  the  ship?" 

"  He  is  not." 

"  I  have  preferred  charges  against  him,  and  I  was 
led  to  believe  that  he  would  be  suspended,"  added  Mr. 
Hamblin,  who  was  not  quite  sure  that  he  was  not  to 
be  suspended  himself. 

"  No  order  to  that  effect  was  sent  by  me,"  replied 
Mr.  Fluxion.  "  You  will  excuse  me,  but  the  vessel  is 
about  to  get  under  weigh." 

"  I  am  not  satisfied  with  these  proceedings.  I  com- 
plained to  Mr.  Lowington  that  it  was  impossible  for 
me  to  instruct  my  classes  while  they  were  under  the 
influence  of  Captain  Kendall.  No  notice  appears  to 
have  been  taken  of  my  charges." 

"  I  think  some  notice  has  been  taken  of  them.  You 
are  directed  to  report  to  the  principal,  with  your  bag- 
gage, on  board  of  the  ship." 

"  Am  I  to  be  punished  instead  of  that  obstinate  and 
impudent  pupil?  "  demanded  the  professor. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    241 

"  I  have  nothing  to  say  about  it,  Mr.  IlaniMin," 
added  Mr.  Fkixion,  sharply.  "  If  you  arc  not  going 
to  the  ship,  \vc  w  ill  weigh  anchor  and  proceed  on  our 
voyage." 

The  jDrofessor  went  down  into  his  state-room,  and 
hastily  packed  his  trunk,  which  was  brought  up  and 
l)ut  in  the  boat  by  one  of  the  stewards.  The  students 
watched  these  movements  with  the  deepest  interest, 
and  they  could  hardly  conceal  theh"  satisfaction  when 
it  was  clear  tliat  the  obnoxious  instructor  was  going 
to  leave  the  Josej^hine,  "  bag  and  baggage."  There 
was  a  great  deal  of  punching  each  other  in  the  ribs,  a 
great  deal  of  half  suppressed  chuckling,  and  a  very 
decided  inclination  to  give  three  cheers.  A  few  of 
the  more  prudent  ones  checked  any  noisy  demonstra- 
tion ;  but  the  moment  that  ]Mr.  Hamblin  went  over 
the  side  w;is  a  very  joyous  one. 

The  Josephine  tripped  her  anchor,  and,  hugged  by 
the  steam-tug,  stood  down  the  river  on  her  way  to 
Rotterdam.  Mr.  Fluxion  went  below,  and  installed 
himself  in  the  state-room  vacated  by  Professor  Ham- 
blin. Mr.  Stoute  gave  the  vice-principal  a  hearty  wel- 
come ;  and  it  was  soon  evident  that  they  were  men 
wdio  could  cordially  agree.  Paul  was  delighted  with 
the  change  ;  for  if  there  was  any  one  in  the  squadron, 
besides  the  principal  and  the  doctor,  for  whom  he  had 
a  high  regard  and  a  thorough  respect,  it  was  Mr.  Flux- 
ion. He  was  a  sailor  from  the  sole  of  his  foot  to  the 
crown  of  his  head.  He  had  visited  all  the  maritime 
ports  of  Europe,  spoke  half  a  dozen  modern  languages 
with  facility,  and  was  popular  with  the  boys.  He 
was  a  sharp  disciplinarian,  and  the  students  found  it 

31 


242  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

difficult  to  outwit  him.  He  knew  all  the  tricks  of 
sailors,  and  especially  of  man-of-war's  men.  He  was 
the  right  hand  man  of  Mr.  Low  ington,  and  the  new- 
arrangement,  whereby  the  professor  had  been  created 
vice-principal,  and  sent  on  board  the  consort,  was  to 
prevent  the  recurrence  of  such  an  incident  as  that 
which  had  imperilled  her  in  the  German  Ocean  dur-^ 
ing  the  squall. 

Though  Paul  felt  that  his  own  powers  were  in  some 
degree  abridged  by  the  presence  of  the  new  officer, 
whose  authority,  unlike  that  of  the  instructors  before, 
extended  to  the  vessel,  and  was  equal  to  that  of  Mr. 
Lowington,  he  was  now  satisfied.  A  competent  per- 
son was  present,  with  whom  he  could  share  the  re- 
sponsibility of  the  navigation  of  the  vessel  in  case  of 
an  emergency.  He  was  on  the  best  of  terms  with 
Mr.  Fluxion,  and  he  was  happier  than  he  had  been 
before  since  the  Josephine  sailed  from  Hull.  Leav- 
ino-  him  to  the  enjoyment  of  the  new  order  of  things, 
we  will  follow  Mr.  Hamblin  on  board  of  the  ship. 

The  barge  ran  up  alongside,  and  the  professor's 
trunk  was  hoisted  on  board.  As  soon  as  the  students 
saw  the  barge  and  the  baggage,  which  indicated  that 
the  obnoxious  old  gendeman  had  been  transferred  to 
the  Young  America,  a  murmur  of  disapprobation  went 
through  the  ship. 

"  I  say,  Wilton,  we  are  to  have  that  old  humbug  in 
the  ship!"  exclaimed  Perth,  the  chief  of  the  Red 
Cross  Knights,  who,  however,  had  changed  their 
name  to  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Fleece. 

"  That's  so,"  replied  Wilton,  who  had  contrived  to 
keep  out  of  the  brig  nearly  a  week.  "  He  has  his 
plunder  with  him." 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    343 

"We  must  do  as  the  Josephines  did,"  added  Perth, 
in  a  whisper. 
'^What's  that?" 

"  Get  rid  of  him.  This  shall  be  the  first  job  of  the 
Knights  of  the  Golden  Fleece.  McDougal,  who  is 
a  capital  fellow,  told  me  all  about  how  the  fellows 
in  the  Josephine  managed  it." 

"  I  heard  they  had  been  hazing  him." 
"  That  they  did,"  laughed  Perth.  "  There  is  fun  in 
the  thing.  If  the  old  fossil  was  a  decent  fellow,  of 
course  we  wouldn't  disturb  him.  Just  as  soon  as  he 
made  a  row  on  board,  all  the  fellows  took  the  captain's 
part.  Morgan  dropped  him  into  the  river,  by  draw- 
ing out  the  nail  that  held  the  boat-hook  in  the  wood  ; 
Blount  dropped  a  coil  of  signal  halyards  on  his  head  ; 
and  McDougal  ducked  him  with  the  hose-pipe  ;  and 
the  old  fellow^  got  a  bogus  letter  from  Antwerp,  in- 
viting- him  to  visit  some  of  those  kings,  or  something 
of  that  sort." 

"  Who  sent  the  letter?"  asked  Wilton,  greatly  inter- 
ested, as  he  always  was,  in  anything  of  this  kind. 

"Nobody  knows  ;  at  least  McDougal  says  so.  When 
we  were  at  Brussels,  the  old  Greek  went  to  see  some 
big  fellow  there,  —  the  king  or  some  minister,  —  and 
the  big  bug  wouldn't  look  at  him.  One  of  our  fellows 
heard  Stoute  telling  the  doctor  about  it;  and  Fatty 
was  so  tickled  that  he  shook  just  like  a  freshly-baked 
cup-custard.  There  goes  the  boatswain's  whistle. 
We  are  off  now,"  added  Perth,  as  he  sprang  to  his 
place  at  the  capstan. 

The  anchor  had  before  been  hove  short,  and  in  a 
ft>w   moments  the  Young  America,  also  in  the  warm 


244 


DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 


embrace  of  a   powerful  steam-tug,  moved  down   the 
river. 

"  All  hands  in  the  rigging !  "  shouted  the  first  lieu- 
tenant, as  the  ship  approached  the  Victoria  and  Albert. 

The  students  ran  up  the  shrouds  like  monkeys,  and 
stationed  themselves  in  the  rigging. 

"  Three  cheers  for  the  Queen  of  England,"  called 
Goodwin  ;  and  they  were  given  with  becoming  zeal. 

A  lady  dressed  in  black,  who  was  walking  the 
promenade  deck,  near  the  dining  saloon,  bowed 
and  waved  her  handkerchief.  That  lady  was  Qiieen 
Victoria.  The  Josephine  at  this  moment  came  up 
on  the  other  side,  and  delivered  her  round  of  cheers. 
Mr.  Fluxion  carried  the  intelligence  on  board  that 
the  queen  had  returned,  and  that  .the  yacht  would 
sail  that  evening ;  and  all  hands  were  on  the  look- 
out for  her  majesty.  She  bowed  and  waved  her 
handkerchief  to  the  Josephines,  as  she  had  to  the 
students  in  the  ship. 

She  was  not  very  distinctly  seen  by  the  curious 
students  in  either  vessel,  and  appeared  like  a  stout 
"dumpy"  little  woman,  in  no  respect  different  from 
any  other  lady.  In  spite  of  this  fact,  it  wms  voted  to 
be  a  big  thing  to  have  seen  the  Qiieen  of  England  ; 
and  the  king  of  the  little  realm  of  Belgium  sank  into 
insignificance,  compared  with  her. 

"  She  don't  look  like  a  queen,"  said  Captain  Haven 
to  Mr.  Mapps,  who  stood  next  to  him. 

*'  Did  you  expect  to  see  her  with  her  crown  and 
coronation  robes  on,  and  with  the  sceptre  in  her 
hand?"  laughed  the  professor. 

"  Not  exactly  ;  but  I  was  not  prepared  to  see  a  lady 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    245 

SO  much  like  any  well-dressed  woman  we  meet  in  the 
street." 

"  Let  me  see,"  said  Mr.  Mapps,  glancing  at  the 
shore,  intent  upon  renewing  his  favorite  topic,  "  Fort 
St.  Laurent  must  have  been  here  ;  and  this  is  where 
Van  Speyk  went  down,  or  rather  went  up." 

"  Who  was  Van  Speyk  ?  " 

"  He  was  the  commander  of  a  Dutch  gunboat,  in 
the  revolution  of  1S30.  His  vessel  wouldn't  come 
about  —  what  do  you  call  it?" 

"Missed  stays,  sir,"  replied  Captain  Haven. 

"  Missed  stays,  and  got  aground  right  under  the 
guns  of  the  fort.  He  was  ordered  to  surrender,  but 
refused  to  do  so,  though  there  was  not  the  least  chance 
for  him  to  make  a  successful  resistance.  He  was  de- 
termined that  the  rebels  should  not  have  his  vessel, 
and,  rushing  down  into  the  powder-magazine,  he  said 
his  prayers,  and  coolly  laid  his  lighted  cigar  on  an 
open  barrel  of  powder.  An  explosion  followed  which 
shook  the  whole  city.  Twenty-eight,  out  of  thirty-one 
on  board,  including  the  heroic  captain,  were  killed  — 
blown  up  into  the  air.  A  monument  to  his  memorN' 
was  erected  by  the  side  of  that  of  De  Ruiter,  and  the 
government  pledged  itself  that  a  vessel  in  the  Dutch 
navy  should  always  bear  the  name  of  Van  Speyk." 

"  He  was  a  good  fellow,"  replied  the  captain, 
warmly. 

21  * 


246  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE    professor's    CHARGE. 

I  SAY,  Perth,  I've  been  a  good  boy  for  more  than 
a  week,  and  I  begin  to  be  ashamed  of  myself  for 
my  want  of  activity,"  said  Wilton,  who  had  seated 
himself  on  the  bowsprit-cap,  while  his  companion 
was  reclining  on  the  flying  jib.  "  I  shall  spoil  if  there 
is  not  something  going  on  soon." 

'^  We'll  go  on  that  cruise  in  the  Josephine  just  as 
soon  as  we  can  bring  things  round  right,"  added 
Perth. 

"  It's  no  use  to  think  of  that  while  we  are  moored 
fifty  or  a  hundred  miles  from  the  sea,"  continued 
Wilton. 

"  Of  course  not.  Rotterdam  is  away  up  the  river, 
with  a  bar  at  its  mouth  having  only  seven  feet  of 
water  on  it  at  low  tide.  You  must  go  over  that,  or  by 
the  canal,  which  runs  through  an  island.  Do  you 
know  where  we  go  next?" 

"  I  heard  some  of  the  fellows  say  we  were  going  to 
the  southward  soon." 

"  If  that's  so  I  should  suppose  we  shall  go  into 
Pieppe  or  Havre,"  said  Perth. 

"  I  heard  Havre  mentioned.     How  will  that  suit?" 

"First  rate!"  exclaimed  the  embryo  captain  of  the 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND  AND    BELGIUM.    247 

proposed  prize,  for  the  Knights  depended  upon  Perth 
for  the  navigation  of  the  Josephine,  when  their  long- 
cherislied  plan  should  be  put  in  execution. 

"  I  suppose  we  shall  not  stay  in  Holland  more  than 
a  week." 

"  No,  I  hope  not.  Lowington  is  afraid  we  shall  all 
get  sick  if  we  stay  here  long." 

"  Havre  is  just  the  place  for  us.  It  has  an  open 
harbor,  and  we  can  go  to  sea  from  there  without  any 
difficulty.  Besides,  there's  another  thing  that  will 
favor  us." 

'^What's  that?"  asked  Wilton. 

"All  the  fellows  will  go  to  Paris  when  the  ship  is 
there,  and  we  can  have  a  first-rate  chance  to  operate 
while  they  are  gone." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that.  Our  fellows  will  all 
w^ant  to  go  to  Paris  with  the  rest.  I  want  to  go  tliere 
myself,"  suggested  Wilton. 

"  We  may  as  well  give  it  up,  then,"  added  Perth. 

"  We  must  see  Paris,  anyhow." 

"  I'll  tell  you  what  we  can  do.  We  can  run  round 
througli  the  vStraits  of  Gibraltar,  and  up  the  ^Slediterra- 
nean  to  Marseilles.  From  there  we  can  all  go  to 
Paris." 

"  That  will  be  a  long  cruise,"  said  Wilton. 

"  No  matter  for  that.     The  longer  the  better." 

"How  far  is  it?" 

"  Not  less  tlian  two  thousand  miles.  We  could  go 
in  ten  or  fifteen  days,"  added  Perth,  warming  up  as 
he  anticipated  the  pleasure  of  tlie  runaway  cruise. 
"  After  we  get  into  the  Mediterranean,  we  can  run 
along  the  coast  of  Soain,  go  into  port  as  often  as  we 
like,  and  have  a  first-rate  time  generally." 


248  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 

''  But  don't  you  suppose  Lowington  will  follow  us?" 

''No  matter  if  he  does.  We  can  beat  the  Young 
America  on  a  wind  from  Monday  morning  till  Satur- 
day night.  If  we  find  the  ship  is  overhauling  us,  all 
we  have  to  do  is  to  hug  the  wind,  and  we  can  give  her 
the  slip." 

"  We  haven't  money  enough  to  pay  the  expenses  of 
such  a  trip,"  said  Wilton. 

"  There's  plenty  of  money  in  the  Josephine.  But 
we  don't  need  much.  The  vessel  has  a  year's  pro- 
visions in  her  hold." 

"  Salt  junk  and  hard  tack,"  suggested  Wilton,  who 
was  not  partial  to  this  diet. 

"  That  will  do  very  well  while  we  are  at  sea  ;  and 
when  we  get  to  Spain  we  can  buy  things  cheap. 
Besides,  our  fellows  are  going  to  raise  some  money 
on  their  own  account,"  said  Perth,  in  a  whisper. 

"  How's  that?"  asked  the  other,  curiously. 

"  Every  one  of  the  Knights  wrote  home  to  have 
their  folks  send  them  some  money  at  Paris,  —  or  every 
one  but  you  and  Munroe  ;  and  the  game  was  played 
out  with  3'ou  and  him,  for  you  had  some  sent  to  you  in 
London." 

"  Yes ;  and  Lowington  got  it,"  replied  Wilton  in 
diso^ust. 

"  We  fixed  it  all  right.  We  shall  find  loose  change 
enough  on  board  of  the  Josephine  to  keep  us  happy 
till  w^e  get  to  Paris,  by  the  way  of  Marseilles,  and  then 
we  shall  be  rotten  with  stamps." 

"  But  don't  you  expect  to  be  caught  some  time  or 
other?  "  inquired  Wilton,  whose  experience  on  a  former 
occasion  seemed  to  point  in  this  direction. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    I.\    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIU>r.    249 

"  No  matter  if  w  c  arc.  We  must  be  ready  for  that  •, 
but  we  will  be  jolly  while  we  have  thiugs  our  o\\  u 
way." 

"  It's  no  use  to  talk  about  it  yet,"  added  Wiltou, 
with  a  yawn,  for  the  wild  scheme  seemed  so  fiir  otVto 
him  that  he  could  not  enter  into  the  spirit  of  it  yet. 

"  It  won't  be  more  than  a  week  or  ten  days  before 
we  shall  be  ready  to  make  a  strike.  You  know  we 
must  all  cut  up  so  as  to  be  left  on  board." 

"  Yes,  and  some  one  will  be  left  on  board  with  us, 
just  as  it  happened  at  Cowes." 

"  It  won't  be  Fluxion,  anyhow  ;  for  he  has  been  trans- 
ferred to  the  Josephine,  and  we  can  come  it  over  any 
other  of  the  professors.  However,  we  must  feel  our 
way,  and  the  first  thing  we  have  to  do  is  to  get  left 
on  board." 

"  Humph  !  That's  easy  enough,"  said  Wilton,  who 
had  never  found  any  difficulty  in  being  left  behind,  or 
in  being:  condemned  to  the  brisf.- 

''  We  must  make  a  sure  thing  of  it  next  time  ;  but  it 
won't  do  to  run  away  with  a  boat  again.  Hush  up  ! 
There  comes  that  old  stick-in-the-mud  from  the  Jose- 
phine," added  Perth,  lowering  his  voice  to  a  whisper. 

The  crentleman  thus  discourteouslv  alluded  to  w^as  Mr. 
Hamblin,  who  had  climbed  upon  the  topgallant  fore- 
castle for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a  view  of  the  region 
through  which  the  vessel  was  passing.  As  the  two  boys 
were  fiir  out  on  the  bowsprit,  over  the  water,  he  did  not 
venture  to  aj^proach  any  nearer  to  them  ;  yet  the  exces- 
sive prudence  which  the  Knights  practised  required 
them  to  keep  silence  whenever  there  was  a  possibility 
that  a  word  might  be  overheard  by  the  uninitiated. 


250  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

"  I  wish  he  would  come  up  here,"  whispered  Wil- 
ton, from  the  corner  of  his  mouth. 

"Why?" 

"  I  would  contrive  some  way  to  spill  him  into  the 
drink,"  chuckled  the  ever-willing  conspirator. 

Mr.  Hamblin  was  tlien  cool  and  self-possessed,  and 
he  did  not  venture  out  upon  the  treacherous  spar,  and 
the  entangling  rigging,  so  that  the  wretch  on  the  cap 
had  no  opportunity  to  give  him  a  second  bath  in  the 
dirty  Scheldt.  The  learned  gentleman  was  looking 
for  the  site  of  the  Duke  of  Parma's  Bridge,  but  he 
couldn't  find  it,  and  presently  retired.  He  was  not 
much  interested  in  the  Spanish  operations  in  Flan- 
ders, though  he  felt  it  his  duty  to  see  a  spot  so  noted 
in  history  —  it  was  so  effective,  before  a  class  of  stu- 
dents, to  be  able  to  say  he  had  seen  the  place  alluded 
to  in  the  text-book.  He  was,  in  fact,  more  concerned 
to  know  what  Mr.  Lowington's  decision  was,  and  he 
was  waiting  impatiently  for  an  interview  with  him. 

"  The  old  hunks  is  too  mean  for  the  Josephines,  and 
he  has  been  quartered  upon  us!"  exclaimed  Wilton, 
as  the  professor  descended  to  the  main  deck.  "  The 
fellows  in  the  consort  say  he  is  as  grouty  as  a  mud 
turde,  and  as  crabbed  as  an  owl  at  noonday.  He 
snubs  every  one  that  makes  a  blunder,  and  rips  at  the 
class  half  the  time." 

"  They  say  Lowington  don't  like  him  much  better 
than  the  fellows  do,"  added  Perth. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  explain  how  any  of  the  stu- 
dents had  reached  this  conclusion  ;  but  it  is  certain 
that  boys  understand  their  guardians  and  instructors 
much  better  than  the  latter  generally  suppose. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    RP:LGUtm.     25 1 

"  Perth,  I  think  we  might  as  well  have  our  liberty 
stopped  for  serving  out  Old  Crabs,  as  for  anything 
else,"  suggested  Wilton. 

"  I'm  willing  ;  tlie  Knights  will  do  that  job  hand- 
somely, you  may  bet  your  life." 

"  But  we  musn't  get  caught  too  soon." 

"  We  work  in  the  dark,  and  we  can  do  the  thing 
as  well  as  the  Josephines  did." 

"  Let's  study  up  something  at  once,  and  put  him 
through  a  course  of  sprouts.  I  don't  believe  in  toler- 
ating a  professor  who  was  too  mean  for  the  Josephine," 
replied  Wilton,  shaking  his  head,  as  though  a  per- 
sonal indignity  had  been  put  upon  him. 

"  All  right ;  we  will  be  ready  as  soon  as  he  is. 
What's  the  row  on  deck?"  continued  Perth,  rising 
from  his  seat,  as  a  group  of  students  gathered  in  the 
risreinof,  and  on  such  elevations  as  would  enable  them 
to  see  over  the  bulwarks. 

"  Only  one  of  Mapps's  long  yarns,"  answered 
Wilton. 

"  I'm  going  down  to  see  what  it  is." 

Perth  went  down,  but  Wilton  had  not  the  slightest 
interest  in  anything  ]Mr.  Mapps  had  to  say  ;  and  he 
stretched  himself  on  the  jib,  which  had  been  cast  loose 
ready  to  hoist,  in  case  it  should  be  required. 

"  This  is  the  place  where  the  Duke  of  Parma  built 
his  great  bridge  over  the  Scheldt,"  said  the  professor 
of  history,  as  the  students  "gathered  around  him. 

"  What  did  he  build  the  bridge  for?"  asked  one  of 
them. 

"  In  order  to  close  the  navigation  of  the  river,  and 
thus  prevent  the  people  of  Antwerp  from  obtaining 


2^2  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

provisions,  which  came  to  them  from  Holland.  When 
the  Prince  of  Orange  was  assassinated,  the  Duke  of 
Parma  was  making  his  preparations  to  subdue  the 
country.  By  the  death  of  the  prince  Holland  was 
left  without  an  effective  leader,  while  in  the  duke 
Spain  had  one  of  the  most  accomplished  and  ener- 
getic generals  of  his  age.  Parma  saw  that  Antwerp 
was  the  key  to  the  situation,  and  he  directed  his  whole 
attention  to  its  capture. 

"  Before  this  time  the  Prince  of  Orange  had  real- 
ized that  the  loss  of  Antwerp  would  be  the  loss  of 
the  whole  of  tlie  region  which  is  now  called  Belgium  ; 
and  when  it  was  clear  in  what  direction  his  skilful 
antagonist  proposed  to  operate,  he  had  advised  the 
cutting  of  the  dike  on  your  right,  which  would  lay 
the  country  under  water,  and  open  a  channel  of  com- 
munication with  Holland  and  Zealand  by  water. 
Unfortunately,  his  advice  was  disregarded  till  the 
duke  had  secured  the  dikes  —  a  neglect  which  caused 
the  loss  of  Antwerp,  and  with  it  the  whole  of  Flan- 
ders. 

"  Though  Parma  had  erected  forts  all  along  the 
banks  of  the  river,  the  hardy  Dutchmen  ran  the 
gantlet  of  them,  and  Antwerp  was  well  supplied 
with  food,  the  price  being  four  times  as  much  as  in 
Holland.  The  people  of  the  city,  and  even  their 
leaders,  ridiculed  the  idea  of  constructing  the  bridge, 
and  took  no  steps  to  prevent  it.  The  death  of 
Orange  caused  a  panic  throughout  the  Netherlands, 
of  which  the  shrewd  Parma  took  advantage,  and 
urged  on  his  preparations.  Though  crippled  in  a 
measure  by  the  neglect  of  his  sovereign  to  supply  him 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    253 

With  men  and  money,  the  bridge  was  completed  in 
tlie  face  of  tremendous  oV:)staclcs.  It  was  twenty-four 
hundred  feet  long,  and  composed  of  thirty-two  boats, 
or  vessels,  bound  together  by  hawsers,  cables,  and 
beams.  On  each  side  was  a  wall  of  timbers,  and  on 
the  structure  guns  were  planted  for  its  defence.  A 
fort  was  erected  at  each  end,  heavily  armed  and 
manned. 

"  When  the  bridge  was  finished,  the  Antwerpers, 
who  had  laughed  to  scorn  the  idea  of  such  a  struc- 
ture, found  that  their  supplies  were  cut  ofl^.  They 
made  two  attempts  to  break  through  the  bridge,  but 
failed  in  both,  though  in  one  of  them  they  made  a 
breach  by  exploding  a  fire-ship,  and  destroyed  nearly 
a  thousand  Spanish  soldiers,  and  Parma  himself  was 
knocked  senseless.  The  attempt  was  not  followed  up 
with  sufficient  energy,  and  the  vSpaniard  had  time  to 
repair  the  work.  Antwerp,  deprived  of  provisions 
by  the  skill  and  determination  of  the  duke,  was  starved 
out  and  compelled  to  surrender.  The  country  contin- 
ued under  the  vSpanish  yoke,  wdiile  the  United  Prov- 
inces maintained  their  independence." 

The  attentive  audience  which  had  gathered  around 
the  professor  separated  when  he  had  finished  the  story. 
Some  of  them  went  aloft,  to  look  over  the  dikes,  and 
with  their  eyes  followed  the  long  lines  of  ditches  and 
canals  which  extended  into  the  interior. 

In  the  mean  time,  ISIr.  Hamblin  walked  the  deck 
very  uneasily,  waiting  for  an  opportunity  to  discuss 
his  position  with  the  principal.  Tiie  studies  of  the 
classes  were  to  be  resumed  on  the  following  day,  and 
he  was  anxious  to  know  what  disposition  was  to  be 
22 


254  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 

made  of  him.  The  ship  was  aheady  provided  with 
an  excellent  instructor  in  Greek  and  Latin  ;  and  only 
in  the  department  of  mathematics  was  there  a  vacancy, 
made  by  the  transfer  of  Mr.  Fluxion.  It  would  be 
impossible  for  Mr.  Hamblin  to  teach  anything  but 
Greek  and  Latin,  though  he  had  had  some  experience 
in  the  other  branches. 

Mr.  Lowington  seemed  to  be  provokingly  indifferent 
on  the  subject,  and  the  professor  was  at  last  compelled 
to  ask  an  interview,  which,  however,  his  dignity  com- 
j^ellcd  him  to  defer  till  the  ship  was  approaching 
Flushing,  when  the  steamer  was  to  leave  her.  The 
principal  understood  the  character  of  the  learned  gen- 
tleman very  well,  and  knew  that  any  manifestation  of 
anxiety  on  his  own  part  would  so  inflate  the  vanity  of 
the  professor  that  he  could  do  nothing  with  him  ;  but 
he  granted  the  interview  when  it  was  demanded. 

"  Mr.  Lowington,  I  am  rather  desirous  of  knowing 
what  is  to  be  done,"  said  the  savant^  when  they  were 
alone  in  the  main  cabin.  "  I  find  that  Mr.  Fluxion  has 
been  transferred  to  the  place  I  filled  on  the  Josephine. 
As  you  are  aware,  I  was  employed  to  teach  Latin  and 
Greek." 

"  I  am  aware  of  it,"  replied  the  principal,  still  ap- 
pearing to  be  singularly  indifferent  in  such  a  momen- 
tous crisis,  as  it  seemed  to  Mr.  Hamblin. 

"  I  presume  Mr.  Fluxion  is  competent  to  teach  the 
classics." 

"  Entirely  competent.  He  was  assigned,  in  the  be- 
ginning, to  the  department  of  navigation,  on  account 
of  his  knowledge  of  practical  seamanship.  I  don't 
know  that  he  has  any  superior  as  a  teacher  of  the 
classics." 


yOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    255 

Mr.  Hambliii  did  not  like  this  answer.  The  i)rin- 
cipal  had  no  business  to  tliink  that  any  one  was  his 
equal  in  the  department  of  Greek  and  Latin,  especially 
the  former.  Mr.  Fluxion  had  never  written  a  Greek 
Grammar,  compiled  a  Greek  Reader,  and  edited  the 
Anabasis.  The  remark  of  the  principal  was  very  in- 
judicious. 

"  Having  been  displaced  from  my  position  in  the 
consort,  I  am  rather  desirous  of  knowing  what  is  to 
be  done  with  me,"  added  tiie  j^rofessor,  choking  down 
his  disgust. 

"  I  hope  we  shall  be  able  to  make  an  arrangement 
that  will  be  satisf^ictory  to  you,  at  least  for  the  present," 
replied  the  principal.  "  I  have  had  some  consultation 
with  the  instructors  ;  and  ]Mr.  Paradyme  has  obligingly 
consented  to  take  the  department  of  mathematics  in 
the  ship  for  a  time,  and  the  Greek  and  Latin  will  be 
assigned  to  you." 

"  This  arrangement  is  entirely  satisfactory  to  me, 
Mr.  Lowington,"  answered  the  professor,  who  was 
really  delighted  to  obtain  what  was  regarded  as  the 
senior  professorship  in  the  squadron  ;  and  it  seemed 
quite  fitting  that  the  place  should  be  given  to  him. 

"  This  is  only  a  temporary  arrangement,"  added  the 
principal,  desirous  to  prevent  any  misunderstanding  in 
the  future. 

This  was  not  entirely  satisfactory  to  ISL-.  Hamblin, 
who  thought  a  thing  so  fitly  done  ought  to  be  perma- 
nent. 

"  It  is  not  pleasant  for  me  to  feel  unsettled,  and  to 
be  liable  to  a  change  at  any  time,"  said  the  professor. 
"  I  think  I  should  prefer  my  place  in  the  Josephine." 


256  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

"  Since  you  and  the  cai:)tain  of  the  Josephine  cannot 
agree,  it  does  not  appear  to  be  j^racticable  for  you  to 
remain  there." 

"  Do  you  expect  me  to  submit  when  insulted  by  a 
pupil,  Mr.  Lovvington?"  asked  Mr.  Ilamblin,  solemn- 
ly.    "  Will  you  allow  a  student  to  insult  me?" 

"  I  will  neither  allow  a  student  to  insult  you,  nor 
you  to  Insult  a  student,"  replied  the  j^rincipal,  with  the 
most  refreshing  frankness. 

''  You  will  not  allow  77ie  to  insult  a  pupil !  "  ex- 
claimed Mr.  Hamblin. 

"  Certainly  not." 

"  Do  you  think  me  capable  of  doing  such  a  thing?" 

"  I  am  sorry  to  say  you  have  proved  that  you  are. 
You  called  one  of  them  a  pn^^py." 

"  But  not  until  —  " 

"  Excuse  me,  Ivlr.  Hamblin.  I  do  not  purpose  to 
discuss  this  matter  again." 

"  May  I  ask  if  you  sustain  Mr.  Kendall  in  his  con- 
duct towards  me?  " 

"I  do  — fully." 

"  I  am  astonished,  sir !  " 

"  So  am  I  —  astonished  that  a  gentleman  of  your 
learning  and  ability  should  so  demean  himself  as  to 
apply  offensive  epithets  to  his  pupils.  In  the  first 
place,  you  had  no  right  to  interfere  with  the  discipline 
of  the  vessel ;  and  when  Captain  Kendall  told  you 
that  he  commanded  the  Josephine,  he  said  no  more 
than  the  truth,  and  no  more  than  the  circumstances 
required  him  to  say.  In  the  second  place,  after  you 
called  him  a  puppy,  and  repeated  the  epithet,  on  the 
quarter-deck,  I  could  not  have  blamed  him  if  he  had 


rOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    257 

Ml  you  in  irons.  I  approve  his  conduct  fully.  As 
^ou  insulted  him  before  his  officers  and  crew,  it  was 
necessary  that  he  should  vindicate  himself  before 
them." 

"  I  am  afraid  this  vessel  is  no  place  for  me,"  said 
die  professor,  with  extreme  disgust. 

''  I  am  afraid  not,  if  you  cannot  observe  the  rules 
of  the  ship." 

'^  I  think  I  have  observed  the  rules,  sir.  Mr.  Ken- 
dall used  every  means  in  his  power  to  annoy  me  ;  and 
still  you  sustain  him  in  it.  He  knows  that  you  are 
partial  to  him." 

"  I  am  not  aware  that  Captain  Kendall  used  any 
means  to  annoy  you." 

"  I  think  you  do  not  know  that  boy  as  well  as  I  do. 
A  rope  was  thrown  down  upon  my  head  :  the  offence 
was  suffered  to  pass  unnoticed  by  Mr.  Kendall.  I 
was  wilfully  or  carelessly  thrown  into  the  river  ;  the 
captain  did  not  consult  me,  but  made  his  inquiries  in 
private,  and  of  course  the  culprits  escaped." 

"  You  were  thrown  into  the  river  by  your  own  care- 
lessness, Mr.  Hamblin.     I  saw  the  whole  of  it." 

"  So  Mr.  Kendall  told  me,  in  the  most  offensive 
tones.  I  do  not  complain  of  these  things ;  I  only 
mention  them  for  the  sequel.  A  boy  drenclied  me 
with  water  ;  he  begged  my  pardon  on  his  knees,  and 
I  forgave  him  ;  but  this  offence  the  captain  punishes 
in  the  most  severe  manner.  Why?  Apparently  be- 
cause I  —  the  only  sufferer  —  had  forgiven  the  of- 
fender." 

"  It  was  necessary  for  the  captain  to  put  a  stop  to 
such  pranks." 

22* 


258  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

"  But  he  did  not  use  good  judgment.  ISIcDougal 
explained  the  matter,  and  was  exceedingly  sorry." 

"  But  he  drenched  you  on  purpose." 

"  Impossible,  sir  !  " 

The  principal  called  one  of  the  stewards,  and  sent 
for  McDougal,  who  presently  appeared.  lie  had 
already  confessed  that  the  drenching  was  not  an  acci- 
dent, and  he  repeated  his  statement,  to  the  utter  aston- 
ishment of  the  discomfited  pedagogue.  During  the 
excursion  on  shore,  some  of  the  Josephines  had  told 
him  that  the  trouble  between  Paul  and  the  professor 
had  been  on  his  account ;  and  he  had  made  the  con- 
fession in  order  to  justify  the  captain,  at  whatever  cost 
to  himself.  The  spirited  conduct  of  the  young  com- 
mander had  filled  the  boys  with  admiration,  and  they 
were  determined  that  he  should  not  suffer,  whoever 
else  did. 

"  You  did  it  on  purpose  —  did  you  ?  "  repeated  the 
savant.     "  May  I  ask  why  you  did  it?  " 

"  The  fellows  didn't  like  you,  and  were  bound  to 
get  you  out  of  the  Josephine,"  replied  McDougal, 
candidly. 

''  The  fellows  !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Hamblin.  "  Were 
there  others  concerned  in  this  iniquitous  transaction?  ^' 

"  More  than  a  dozen  of  them." 

"  Did  you  write  the  letter  to  me  which  purported  to 
come  from  the  Belgian  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs?" 

''  No,  sir." 

'^  Who  did?" 

''  I  don't  know,  sir." 

^'  You  don't  know  !  Don't  lie  to  me,"  said  the  pro- 
fessor, sternly. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    239 

»  I  do  not." 

"  I  know,"  added  the  learned  gentleman,  turning  to 
the  principal. 

"  McDousfal,  voii  say  that  a  dozen  bovs  were  con 
ccrncd  in  vour  j^i'oceedings.     Who  were  they?  " 

"  I  would  rather  not  tell,  sir.  I  am  willing  to  own 
up  to  all  I  did  myself." 

"You  hear  that,  Mr.  Lowington?"  exclaimed  the 
professor,  with  horror. 

"Of  course  I  hear  it,  ]Mr.  Hamblin,"  replied  the 
principal,  impatiently.     *'  You  may  leave,  McDougal.'' 

"  Leave,  sir  !  "  ejaculated  Mr.  Hamblin. 

"  Go,  McDougal ;  "  and  he  went.  "  You  said  you 
knew  who  wrote  the  fictitious  letter,  sir." 

"  I  do." 

"Who  was  it?" 

"  Mr.  Lowington,  If  that  boy  you  sent  away  had 
told  the  whole  truth,  he  would  have  confessed  that 
IMr.  Kendall  was  at  the  bottom  of  all  these  infamous 
proceedings." 

"  Captain  Kendall  !  " 

-'  Yes,  sir  ;  especially  the  plan  to  throw  me  into  the 
^ater.  When  I  demanded  a  boat,  I  mentioned  the 
gig.  It  was  retused.  Why?  Because  the  crew  of 
the  first  cutter  had  been  instructed  to  tip  me  over- 
board !  It  is  very  strange  that  no  one  but  myself  has 
been  able  to  understand  the  vicious  intentions  of  the 
boys." 

"  The  gig  is  the  captain's  boat.  The  regulations 
require  the  captain  to  give  the  professors  the  first  cut- 
ter," explained  Mr.  Lowington. 

"  I  was  not  aware  of  it  at  the  time  ;  but  I  am  satis- 


26o  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 

fied  that  the  crew  of  the  first  cutter  had  been  instructed 
to  pitch  me  into  the  river." 

"  If  they  were,   you   were   very   obliging  to   assist 
them  as  you  did,"  added  the  princip-al.     "  But  go  on. 
Do  you  suppose  Captain  Kendall  instructed  McDougal 
to  drench  you  with  water?" 
"  Very  likely." 

"  And  then  inflicted  the  severest  punishment  upon 
him  for  doing  it?  ft  is  absurd!  That  was  the  third 
and  last  offence.  The  captain  put  an  end  to  these 
tricks  by  his  well-timed  energy,  and  I  am  sure  he  had 
no  part  or  lot  in  them.  Do  you  think  he  got  some  one 
to  write  the  letter  to  you  ?  " 

"  No,  sir  ;  I  think  he  did  it  himself,"  replied  the 
professor,  more  calmly,  as  he  came  to  what  he  con- 
sidered his  stronghold. 

"  I  am  not  willing  to  believe  it."  ^ 

"  I  am  prepared  to  prove  it,  sir." 
"  If  Kendall  has  been  guilty  of  such  conduct,  —  if  it 
can  be  shown  that  he  wrote  the  letter,  or  that  he  knew 
of  its  being  written,  —  I  will  not  only  suspend  him,  but 
I  will  reduce  him  to  a  common  sailor,  and  confine 
him  in  the  brig,"  said  the  principal,  with  no  little 
agitation. 

This  strong  speech  looked  like  the  dawn  of  reason 
to  Mr.  Hamblin,  and  he  hastened  to  produce  his  evi- 
dence. The  letter  and  several  exercises  written  by 
Paul  were  first  placed  on  the  cabin  table,  to  enable 
Mr.  Lowington  to  compare  the  penmanship. 

"  There  is  a  strong  similarity  in  them,  I  grant ;  but 
they  are  all  written  in  the  common  school-boy  hand 
of  the  United  States,"  added  the  principal. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    261 

"  There  is  a  stronger  resemblance  than  that.  The 
capital  A's  are  the  same  ;  the  small  r's  are  identical." 

"  But  the  small  a's  are  diflerent." 

"  Doubtless  he  disguised  liis  hand  to  some  extent." 

"  Is  this  all  the  proof  you  have?  "  asked  Mr.  Lovv- 
ington,  somewhat  relieved. 

"No,  sir,"  replied  the  professor,  triumphantly,  an 
he  exhibited  the  j^aper  he  had  taken  from  Paul's  3i:i;:-- 
room,  which  was  different  from  any  he  had  been  able 
to  find  in  either  vessel.  "  The  paper  is  identical,  you 
perceive." 

"  I  see  that  it  is." 

"  And  no  other  student  has  such  j^^per." 

"  The  ship  has  provided  paper  for  the  students,  but 
none  like  this,"  said  Mr.  Lowington,  with  a  sigh. 

"  I  think  you  will  consider  the  case  proved,"  added 
Mr.  Hamblin,  exultingly. 

"  By  no  means.  Enough  has  been  shown  to  war- 
rant an  inquiry.  I  will  make  an  investigation  imme- 
diately." 

This  was  all  Mr.  Hamblin  could  ask  ;  and,  confi- 
dent that  Captain  Kendall  would  be  convicted,  he  left 
the  cabin,  as  the  captain  of  the  Belgian  steamer  came 
in  to  settle  for  the  towage. 


262  DIKES   AND    DITCHES,    OR 


CHAPTER   XVI. 
« 

CAPTAIN  Kendall's  defence. 

THE  squadron  remained  off  Flushing  long  enough 
for  Mr.  Fluxion  to  visit  the  shore,  and  ascer- 
tain the  condition  of  the  "  Wei  tevreeden."  The 
repairs  were  going  on,  but  were  not  completed,  and  the 
cost  of  them  could  not  yet  be  determined.  The  vice- 
principal,  however,  obtained  such  information  in  re- 
gard to  the  probable  expense,  as  to  enable  him  to 
make  a  final  settlement.  Captain  Schimmelpennink 
came  off  to  the  Josephine  with  him  on  his  return.  It 
was  certain  that  eleven  lunidred  guilders  would  cover 
the  whole  exjDeuse  of  putting  the  galiot  in  perfect 
repair,  and  the  balance  of  this  sum  was  handed  to  the 
skipper. 

If  there  ever  was  a  grateful  man  in  the  world,  that 
man  was  the  captain  of  the  "  Wei  tevreeden."  In 
addition  to  the  energetic  speeches  he  made  through 
the  interpreter,  he  indulged  in  some  very  pretty  and 
significant  gesticulations,  which  the  officers  and  crew 
could  comprehend.  The  students  were  happy  in  the 
good  deed  they  had  done  —  quite  as  happy  as  the 
the  skipper  himself.  In  addition  to  the  sum  expended, 
there  was  five  hundred  and  fifty-four  guilders  in  the 
hands  of  the  treasurer,  which  was  to  be  used  for  some 
simiHr  object  when  presented  to  them. 


VOUXG    AMEllICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND   BELGIUM.      263 

While  Mr.  Fluxion  was  absent  at  l'"lushiiig,  Mr, 
Lowington  had  gone  on  board  of  the  Josephine,  and, 
taking  Paul  into  his  state-room,  had  exhibited  the 
fictitious  note  to  him,  stating  the  charge  made  against 
him  by  Mr.  Ilamblin. 

"  I  need  not  say,  Captain  Kendall,  that  this  is  a  very 
serious  charge,"  added  the  principal,  solemnly. 

"  I  think  it  is,  sir,"  replied  Paul,  blushing  deeply. 
"  If  you  think  I  wrote  that  letter,  sir,  I  hope  you  will 
do  your  duty." 

"  I  certainly  shall,  though  it  break  my  heart." 

"Whatever  you  do,  sir,  it  will  not  alter  my  regard 
for  you." 

"  I  am  already  accused  of  partiality  towards  you. 
Captain  Kendall,"  added  Mr.  Lowington.  "  I  confess 
that  I  never  had  a  pupil  for  whom  I  cherished  so  high 
an  esteem  and  so  warm  a  regard." 

"  Thank  you,  sir.  You  are  now,  as  you  always 
have  been,  very  kind  to  me,"  replied  Paul,  hardly  able 
to  restrain  the  tears  in  which  his  emotions  demanded 
expression. 

"  I  must  say  that  I  deem  this  charge  groundless  and 
absurd  ;  but  I  cannot  explain  it  away.  The  writing 
in  the  note  resembles  yours  in  some  respects  ;  and  the 
fact  that  the  kind  of  paper  on  wliich  the  note  is 
written  is  found  in  your  possession  alone  has  not 
been  explained.  Do  you  know  anything  about  this 
note?" 

"Nothing,  sir;  only  that  it  came  in  the  mall  with 
the  rest  of  the  Josephine's  letters." 

"  When  did  vou  get  the  paper  which  Mr.  Ilamblin 
foimd  in  vour  writin";  desk?" 


264  "DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

"  I    bought    it  in   Antwerp   on    Tuesday  afternoon, 
when  we  went  on  shore,"  replied  Paul,  promptly. 

"  I  shall  be  obliged  to  inquire  further  into  this  mat- 
ter.    You  will  have  all  hands  called." 

They  left  the  state-room  together,  and  the  first  lieu- 
tenant ordered  the  ship's  company  to  be  piped  to 
Hiarters.  Without  any  definite  explanation,  the  prin 
cipal  directed  all  the  students  to  bring  their  stock  oi 
stationery  on  deck,  and  they  passed  in  review  before 
him,  exhibiting  the  quality  of  their  paper.  At  the 
same  time  Mr.  Stoute  searched  the  steerage  for  any 
which  might  have  been  concealed.  If  any  student  had 
purchased  paper  in  Antwerp,  it  was  not  of  the  kind 
on  which  the  forged  letter  had  been  written. 

"  Young  gentlemen,"  said  Mr.  Lowington,  mouix. 
ing  his  rostrum,  "  a  practical  joke  is  the  stupidest 
thing  in  the  world,  when  perpetrated  at  the  expense 
of  the  feelings  of  others.  Some  one  has  put  such 
a  joke  upon  Mr.  Hamblin,  the  very  last  person  in  the 
world  to  ajDpreciate  this  species  of  humor.  One  of 
your  number  is*  charged  with  the  act." 

"  The  old  lunatic  has  laid  it  to  the  captain,"  whis- 
pered Terrill,  who  thus  interpreted  the  mysterious 
proceedings  of  the  ^^rincipal  and  Paul. 

"  The  particular  kind  of  paper  on  which  the  letter 
to  Mr.  Hamblin  was  written  is  found  only  in  the  pos-f 
session  of  that  one  student,"  continued  the  princiral, 
with  an  emotion  he  could  not  wholly  conceal.  ) 
desire,  if  any  of  you  have  any  information  in  regard 
to  the  note,  that  you  will  communicate  it  at  once." 

Mr.  Lowington  paused,  and  the  boys  looked  blankly 
at  each  other.     Even  to  them,  at  that  moment,  a  prac- 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELOIUM.    ^65 

tical  joke  seemed  to  be  the  stupidest  thing  in  the  world. 
There  was  a  tremendous  sensation  among  them  ;  but 
no  one  volunteered  to  give  the  desired  information. 

"Young  gendcmen,  although  the  evidence  in  my 
possession  is  not  sufficient  to  condemn  the  student 
charged  with  the  otiencc,  it  is  enough  to  justify  grave 
suspicions,  and  I  shall  be  under  the  painful  necessity 
of  suspending  him,  and  sending  him  on  board  of  the 
ship  for  further  examination." 

Paul  was  not  half  so  much  disturbed  by  this  an- 
nouncement as  he  had  been  by  the  trying  scene  with  Mr. 
Hamblin,  a  few  days  before.  It  is  the  guilt,  and  not 
the  loss  of  honor,  the  disgrace,  which  is  hard  to  bear 
when  one  is  charged  with  misconduct  or  crime.  He 
stood  with  folded  arms,  submissive  to  the  authority  of 
the  principal,  and  satisfied  that  the  truth  would  prevail 
in  the  end. 

"Who  is  he?"  asked  one  of  the  students  in  a  sup- 
pressed tone,  when  the  silence  became  painful. 

"  Captain  Kendall,"  replied  the  principal  ;  and  this 
name  produced  a  tremendous  thrill  in  the  hearts  of 
the  ship's  company. 

"  No,  sir  !  No,  sir  !  "  shouted  some  of  the  students. 
"  Silence,  young  gentlemen !  I  know  how  you 
feel,"  interposed  Mr.  Lowington.  "  Although  it 
*would  seem  to  me  impossible  that  Captain  Kendall 
should  have  written  this  letter,  Mr.  Hamblin  distinctly 
charges  him  with  the  act,  and  I  am  sorry  to  add  that 
there  is  some  evidence  to  prove  the  charge." 

Mr.  Lowington  was  more  grieved  than  any  otncr 
person  on  board,  and  it  is  more  than  probable  that,  m 
his  great  anxiety  to   avoid   partiality,  he   ran   into  the 

23 


Z6G  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

opposite  extreme,  and  exposed  himself  to  the  peril 
of  doing  injustice  to  his  young  friend. 

"  Captain  Kendall,  you  will  consider  yourself  under 
arrest,  and  report  on  board  of  the  ship,"  added  the 
principal,  turning  to  Paul. 

The  young  commander  bowed  submissively,  and  the 
boys  wondered  how  he  was  able  to  take  the  matter  so 
coolly. 

"  It's  a  shame  !  "  exclaimed  Terrill,  in  a  low  tone, 
to  Pelham. 

"  Mr.  Terrill,"  continued  Mr.  Lowington,  "  the 
command  of  the  Josephine  devolves  upon  you  until 
further  orders,  and  you  w^ill  go  to  sea  as  soon  as  Mr. 
Fluxion  returns." 

The  first  lieutenant  started  when  his  name  was 
called,  and  suspected  that  he  was  to  be  taken  to  task 
for  the  remark  he  had  just  made.  It  was  fortunate  for 
him,  perhaps,  that  the  ^^rincipal  did  not  hear  his  ener- 
getic words,  or  the  command  might  have  been  given 
to  the  second  lieutenant,  for  Terriil's  impulsive  nature 
would  have  led  him  into  some  intemperate  speech,  so 
deeply  did  he  feel  for  the  captain. 

"I  hope  my  command  will  be  of  very  short  dura- 
tion, sir,"  said  he,  as  the  principal  stepped  down  from 
the  hatch. 

"  I  hope  so,  Mr.  Terrill,"  answered  Mr.  Lowington. 
*'  Captain  Kendall,  you  will  repair  to  the  ship  in  the 
barge." 

"  I  will  be  ready  in  a  moment,  sir,"  replied  Paul, 
as  he  went  below  to  obtain  a  few  needed  articles. 

"  Captain  Kendall,  I  am  downright  sorry  for  this," 
vsaid  Terrill,  following  him  into  his  state-room. 


YOUJvG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    267 

"  Don't  be  at  all  disturbed  about  it,"  answered  Paul, 
cheerfully.  ''  I  am  glad  Mr.  Lovvington  has  taken 
thJs  course.  I  expect  to  be  able  to  prove  that  I  could 
not  have  written  the  letter  and  I  sliall  be  restored  as 
soon  as  we  reach  Rotterdam.  It  is  a  good  deal  better 
to  be  proved  innocent  than  to  be  suspected  of  being 
guilty.  Here  is  the  key  of  the  safe,"  he  added,  as  he 
took  it  from  his  pocket  and  handed  it  to  his  suc- 
cessor. 

"It's  lucky  for  old  Hamblin  he  isn't  on  board  of 
the  Josephine,"  said  Terrill,  with  an  ominous  shake 
of  the  head.  "  I  think  the  fellows  would  throw  him 
overboard  before  the  vessel  gets  to  Rotterdam  if  he 
were." 

"  That  isn't  the  right  spirit,  Terrill ;  and  as  a  par- 
ticular favor  to  me,  I  ask  that  you  will  not  say  a  word 
about  Mr.  Hamblin.  I  have  my  own  opinion  in 
regard  to  him  ;  and  I  suppose  every  fellow  has  ;  but 
the  least  said  is  the  soonest  mended.  I  hope  you  will 
not  let  the  officers  and  crew  indulge  in  any  demonstra- 
tions of  disapproval." 

"  Not  let  them  !  I  can't  help  it.  I  believe  if  old 
Hamblin  was  on  board,  I  w'ould  join  with  the  rest  of 
the  fellows  in  making  a  spread  eagle  of  him  on  the 
fore  shrouds,"  answered  the  commander /r6»  tcfji, 

•■'  Don't  think  of  such  a  thing.  Two  wrongs  won't 
make  a  right,"  said  Paul,  anxiously.  '•  You  and  I  have 
been  first-rate  friends,  Terrill,  and  for  my  sake  do  not 
encourage  or  tolerate  any  demonstrations." 

"  I  will  do  the  best  I  can,  but  I  feel  just  like  making 
the  biggest  row  I  was  ever  in  since  I  was  born." 

"  Keep  cool ;   you   are  going  to  sea  right  off,  and 


268  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

yoLi  will  have  enough  to   do   to   look   out  for  the  ves- 
sel." 

"  I  shall  do  as  you  tell  me,  If  I  can  ;  but  only  be- 
cause yon  wisli  it.  I  think  the  fellows  ought  to  give 
a  few  hearty  groans,  so  as  to  be  sure  no  one  mistakes 
their  sentiments." 

"■  Don't  do  it,  Terrill,"  said  Paul,  as  he  led  the  way 
to  the  deck,  with  his  bundle  in  his  hand. 

When  they  went  on  deck,  Mr.  Fluxion  had  just 
returned  in  the  first  cutter  ;  and  great  was  his  astonish- 
ment, and  that  of  the  boat's  crew,  when  informed  of  the 
exciting  event  W'hich  had  just  transpired.  The  inter- 
view with  the  Dutch  skipper  chraiged  the  current  of 
thought  on  board  for  the  moment ;  but  as  soon  as  he 
departed,  nothing  was  talked  of  but  the  arrest  of  the 
captain. 

Paul  stepped  into  the  barge  with  the  principal,  who 
was  very  sad  and  silent.  As  soon  as  they  were  on 
board  of  the  Young  America,  and  the  barge  hoisted 
up,  orders  were  given  to  fill  away  again. 

•■' What  does  that  mean?"  asked  Perth,  when  the 
barge  was  hoisted  up,  as  he  ran  up  to  Wilton. 

"What?" 

"  Why,  there  is  Captain  Kendall  on  the  quarter-deck 
of  the  ship,  and  the  Josej^hine  is  getting  under  way 
without  him." 

"  There's  been  a  row  somewhere  ;  Kendall  is  one  o^ 
the  tiunkies,  but  he's  a  good  fellow  for  all  that,"  adde(i 
Wilton,  who  could  not  help  giving  Paul  this  tribute. 

"  I'll  tell  you  what  it  is,"  said  Howe,  —  who  was  one 
of  the  barge's  crew,  and  had  heard  all  the  proceedings 
on  Doard  of  the  Josephine,  —  as  he  joined  them,  "  Ken- 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    269 

chill  has  been  suspended,  broken,  turned  out  of  oflice 
for  writing  that  letter  to  old  Ilamblin." 

"  Is  that  so?"   demanded  Perth. 

''  That's  so  ;  but  all  the  fellows  in  the  Josephine  say 
he  didn't  do  it." 

"  It  would  be  a  new  idea  for  Kendall  to  do  anything 
wrong  —  even  to  sneeze  in  prayer  time." 

The  order  to  man  the  braces  interrupted  the  con- 
versation ;  but  the  news  went  through  the  ship  even 
before  she  had  begun  to  gather  headway.  The  matter 
was  thoroughly  discussed,  and  it  was  perfectly  under- 
stood that  1\Iy.  Hamblin  had  perferred  the  charge 
upon  which  Paul  had  been  broken  or  suspended. 
The  commander  of  the  Josephine  was  almost  as 
popular  in  the  ship  as  he  was  in  the  consort ;  and  the 
indignation  against  the  professor  of  Greek  was  hardly 
less  violent  in  the  one  than  in  the  other. 

''  Captain  Kendall,  you  will  occupy  the  spare  state- 
room in  the  after  cabin,  next  to  Flag-officer  Gordon's," 
said  Mr.  Lowington  to  Paul,  as  they  met  after  the  ship 
was  underway. 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  replied  the  young  commander, 
who  had  seated  himself  near  the  companion-way. 

''As  soon  as  supper  is  disposed  of,  I  propose  to  ex- 
amine into  the  charge.     You  shall  have  a  fair  trial." 

"  I  have  no  doubt  of  that." 

Mr.  Lowington  walked  away,  and  Paul,  who  was 
much  embarrassed  by  the  continued  expressions  of 
sympathy  extended  to  him  by  the  officers  of  the  ship, 
retired  to  his  state-room  to  consider  his  line  of  defence. 

Mr.  Hamblin,  satisfied  before,  was  delighted   !iow. 
justice  seemed  to  be  extending  her  tardy  hand  in  his 
23* 


270  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 

favor.  The  rebel  against  his  mighty  will  had  been 
suspended,  and  was  actually  under  arrest.  Of  course 
the  j:)rincipal  had  acknowledged  the  validit}'  of  the 
evidence  he  had  presented.  The  motive  for  such  an 
annoying  practical  joke  was  patent  to  all  in  the  squad- 
ron, while  the  quality  of  the  paper  and  the  resem- 
blance of  the  writing  were  enough  to  convict  the  of- 
fender. 

The  professor  was  enjoying  his  triumph,  not  vindic- 
tively, he  persuaded  himself,  but  in  the  sense  that  his 
own  personal  action  and  motives  were  on  the  eve 
of  being  justified.  As  the  ship  moved  majestically 
down  the  river,  he  walked  up  and  down,  athwart 
ships,  in  a  better  mood  to  enjoy  the  scene  which  pre- 
sented itself  than  ever  before  since  he  joined  the 
squadron.  He  walked  from  rail  to  rail  because  Paul 
was  seated  on  the  quarter-deck,  and  he  did  not  care 
to  meet  him.  When  the  young  commander  w^ent  be- 
low, he  walked  fore  and  aft. 

The  deck  was  crowded  with  students  waiting  for 
the  supper  bell  to  ring;  and  many  an  ugly  and  dis- 
satisfied look  was  bestowed  upon  him  ;  but  the  learn- 
ed gentleman,  in  his  triumph,  was  too  well  pleased 
with  himself  to  notice  them.  Air.  Plamblin  involun- 
tarily extended  his  walk,  from  time  to  time,  until  it 
was  continued  to  the  forecastle,  wdiere  the  crew  were 
collected  in  large  numbers.  Hardly  had  he  passed 
the  foremast  on  his  first  round,  than  he  was  saluted  by 
a  universal  groan,  so  deep  and  hearty  that  he  stopped 
short  and  looked  at  the  crowd.     They  were  silent  then. 

"Young  gentlemen,"  said  the  sava?/^,  sternly,  *""  ii 
that  was  intended  as  an  expression  of —  " 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    2 '/I 

The  remark  of  'jcnsure  was  broiiglit  to  an  abrupt 
tennination  by  a  very  annoying  incident.  Mr.  Ilam- 
blin  IkkI  halted  directly  under  the  weather  fore  yard- 
arm,  braced  up  so  as  to  take  the  wind  on  the  beam. 
Before  lie  had  reached  this  point  of  liis  remark,  a  new 
fellow  by  the  name  of  Little,  remarkable  for  his  agili- 
ty, dropped  from  the  yard  directly  upon  the  top  of 
the  learned  gentleman's  hat,  in  fact,  sitting  down  upon 
hiF '^  tile  "  as  fairly  and  squarely  as  though  the  deed 
had  been  done  on  purpose,  bringing  with  him  the 
slack  of  the  weather  clew-garnet. 

The  professor  was  prostrated  to  the  deck  by  the 
weight  of  the  little  seaman,  —  for  Little's  name  pre- 
cisely described  iiis  stature,  —  while  the  unfortunate 
boy  was  thrown  forward  flat  upon  his  face. 

"O,  I'm  killed,  I'm  killed!"  cried  Little,  rising 
with  much  real  or  apparent  difficulty,  and  pressing 
one  hand  upon  his  hip. 

"You  rascal,  you  !"  roared  Mr.  Hamblin  from  the 
inside  of  his  hat,  as  a  dozen  boys  sprang  forward  to 
pick  him  up. 

The  professor  was  not  a  fashionable  man,  and  did 
not  wear  a  hat  which  would  simply  rest  upon  the  top 
of  his  head,  or  which  would  pinch  the  depository  of 
his  ancient  lore,  and  the  weight  of  the  student  had 
pressed  it  far  down  over  his  eyes.  With  some  labor 
he  extricated  his  learned  pate  from  its  imprisonment, 
and  glanced  with  dismay  at  the  hat  —  a  new  one  which 
he  had  bought  in  Antwerp  to  replace  the  one  he  had 
lost  overboard  in  the  hurricane. 

"You  scoundrel!"  repeated  the  savant^  when  he 
bad  removed  the  mutilated  tile. 


l'J2  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

"  He  didn't  mean  to  do  it,  sir,"  said  Perth,  pointing 
to  the  bloody  face  of  Little  ;  ''  he's  almost  killed  him- 
self." 

"Are  you  hurt.  Little?"  demanded  Mr.  Lowing- 
fon,  rushing  forward  when  he  discovered  what  had 
happened. 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  almost  killed,"  groaned  the  poor  boy, 
making  the  wryest  face  a  boy  ever  made,  and  twisting 
himself  into  a  contortion  of  body  which  none  but  an 
India-rubber  3'outh  like  himself  could  have  accom- 
plished. 

"  Pass  the  word  for  Dr.  Winstock,"  atlded  the  prin- 
cipal, anxiously.  "  Are  you  much  injured,  Mr.  Ham- 
blin?" 

"I  believe  there  is  a  conspiracy  to  take  my  fife," 
growled  the  professor,  without  replying  to  the  direct 
question. 

"Are  you  hurt,  sir?" 

"  Not  so  much  in  body  as  in  my  feelings,"  answered 
Mr.  Hamblin,  holding  out  his  damaged  hat.  "  It  was 
done  on  jDurpose,  sir." 

Dr.  Winstock  now  appeared  on  the  forecastle,  and 
as  Little  seemed  to  be  the  greater  sufferer,  he  attended 
to  his  case  first.  He  examined  the  face  of  the  boy, 
for  by  the  most  assiduous  rubbing  with  his  right  hand 
while  his  left  was  devoted  to  the  hip,  he  had  contrived 
to  besmear  his  face  all  over  with  the  blood  which 
flowed  freely  from  his  nose.  The  surgeon  could  find 
no  wound  on  the  face,  and  it  was  plain  that  there  waf 
nothing  more  terrible  about  the  head  than  the  nose 
bleed. 

"Where  are  you  hurt,  Litde?  "  asked  the  doctor- 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIIM.    2^3 

"  III  the  hip  ;  it's  broke  !  "  replied  the  sullbrer  with 
an  explosive  groan. 

Dr.  Winstock  laid  the  patient  down  upon  the  deek, 
and  proceeded  to  examine  him  w  ilh  the  greatest  care. 
lie  declared  that  no  bones  were  broken. 

"  He  appears  to  be  suffering  great  pain,"  said  the 
principal,  anxiously. 

'■'  He  has  probably  wrenched  a  muscle  in  his  fall, 
and  that  is  almost  as  painful  as  a  l.iroken  bone.  lie 
has  received  no  serious  injury,"  replied  the  doctor, 
as  he  lifted  the  patient  from  the  deck. 

"  I  am  glad  it  is  no  worse.  How  did  it  happen, 
Little?" 

"I  was  coming  in  from  the  weather  yard-arm,  sir. 
I  should  have  gone  down  the  leech  of  the  foresail  if 
you  had  not  told  me  not  to,  sir.  O  I  "  gasped  Little, 
distorting  his  face,  and  doubling  up  his  lithe  little  body. 

"Never  mind  it  now,"  added  the  principal,  kindly. 

"  I  feel  a  little  better,  sir.  Mr.  Hamblin  began  to 
say  something  to  the  fellows  on  deck,  and  I  stopped 
to  listen.  O!"  —  and  Little  doubled  up  again.  '•  I 
caught  hold  of  the  clew-garnet,  sir  —  O  !  I  was  lean- 
ing down  to  hear  w^hat  ]Mr.  Hamblin  said,  and  bore 
my  whole  weight  on  the  clew-garnet.  It  wasn't  be- 
layed, sir,  —  01  —  and  it  let  me  dow^n." 

Mr.  Lowincrton  desired  to  know  what  hands  were 
stationed  at  the  fore  clew-garnets  ;  but  when  they  ap- 
peared,  they  were  verv  confident  they  had  belayed 
these  ropes  as  usual.  Little  was  advised  to  go  below 
and  turn  in  ;  but  he  preferred  to  remain  on  deck.  As 
soon  as  the  principal  and  the  doctor  had  gone  aft,  the 
young   reprobate  turned   to   his  companions,   put  his 


274  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 

thumb  to  his  bloody  nose,  and  wiggled  his  fingers. 
Indeed,  a  remarkable  cure  seemed  suddenly  to  have 
been  wrought  in  his  particular  case  ;  for  he  walked  as 
nimbly  as  ever,  until  some  of  the  officers  came  for- 
ward, when,  unfortunately,  he  had  a  sudden  relapse, 
from  which  he  did  not  recover  —  when  the  "  powers 
that  be  "  were  around  —  for  several  days. 

After  supper  Paul  was  sent  for,  and  repaired  to  the 
main  cabin,  where  he  found  the  principal,  the  surgeon, 
Mr.  Hamblin,  and  several  of  the  professors.  Mr. 
Lowington  stated  the  charge  preferred  against  Cap- 
tain Kendall,  mentioning  the  evidence  in  support 
of  it.  He  then  inquired  of  the  professor  if  he  had 
anything  to  add  to  what  he  had  already  said  on  the 
subject. 

Mr.  Hamblin  had  something  to  add,  but  it  was  in 
the  nature  of  an  argument  against  the  accused,  rather 
than  a  statement  of  fact.  He  reviewed  his  life  on 
board  the  Josephine  since  the  troubles  had  com- 
menced, enlarging  upon  the  zeal  with  which  he  had 
discharged  his  duties.  He  gave  his  view  of  the  diffi- 
culty between  himself  and  the  captain,  as  he  had 
given  it  before  ;  but  he  adduced  no  new  proofs  of  the 
charges  he  preferred. 

"  The  only  question  before  us  at  the  present  time, 
Mr.  Hamblin,  is  in  regard  to  the  authorship  of  the 
letter  purporting  to  come  from  Monsieur  Rogier," 
interposed  Mr.  Lowington.  "  Have  you  any  new 
evidence  to  bring  forward?" 

"  No,  sir ;  I  think  the  charge  has  been  fully 
oroved,"  replied  Mr.  Hamblin. 

'^  Captain  Kendall,  if  you  have  any  defence  to  make, 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    275 

I  am  ready  to  hear  it,"  added  the  prin.cipal,  turning  to 
Paul. 

"  I  did  not  write  the  letter,  and  I  had  no  knowledge 
whatever  of  it  until  Mr.  Hamblin  received  it.  Per- 
haps the  writing  resembles  mine,  but  not  very  much. 
Will  you  let  me  take  the  letter,  sir?  " 

The  note  was  handed  to  him,  and  he  pointed  out 
several  letters  which  were  different  from  any  in  the 
exercises  by  wliich  the  similarity  had  been  shown. 

"  Of  course  he  would  disguise  the  handwriting," 
interposed  Mr.  Hamblin. 

"  The  writing  alone  would  not  prove  anything," 
added  Mr.   Lowington. 

"  So  far  as  the  kind  of  paper  is  concerned,"  con- 
tinued Paul,  picking  up  the  half  quire  which  the  pro- 
fessor had  taken  from  his  state-room,  "  I  bought  it  in 
Antwerp  for  a  particular  purpose."  He  did  not  think 
it  necessarv  to  state  that  it  was  for  his  letters  to  Miss 
Grace  Arbuckle. 

"Are  you  quite  siu'e  you  bought  it  in  Antwerp?" 
demanded  the  professor. 

"  I  shall  prove  that  I  did,"  replied  Paul,  indignant- 
ly. "  I  wish  to  say  I  had  a  hint  that  the  officers  and 
crew  were  very  much  dissatisfied  with  Mr.  Hamblin, 
and  —  " 

"  With  me  !  "  exclaimed  the  savant^  as  though  it 
were  quite  impossible  for  the  students  to  be  dissat- 
isfied with   him. 

"  Allow  Captain  Kendall  to  make  his  statement,  if 
you  please,"  said  the  principal. 

"  But,  Mr.  Lowington,  his  statement  is  incorrect. 
I  have  been  on  the  best  of  terms  with  the  majority 


276  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OK 

of  my  pupils.     Only  a  few  of  the  worst  of  them  have 
manifested  any  ill-will  towards  me." 

"  Go  on,  Captain  Kendall,"  said  the  principal. 

"  I  am  prepared  to  prove  all  I  say.  If  I  had  known 
that  this  investigation  was  to  take  place  to-day,  I  should 
have  asked  for  the  attendance  of  several  witnesses.  I 
used  all  my  influence  to  prevent  any  one  from  playing 
practical  jokes  upon  Mr.  Hamblin.  I  desire  to  have 
the  first  lieutenant  of  the  Josephine,  and  Duncan,  ex- 
amined." 

"What  have  they  to  do  with  it?"  asked  the  pro- 
fessor, impatiently. 

"  After  doing  what  I  could  to  prevent  others  from 
annoying  Mr.  Hamblin  by  practical  jokes,  it  is  not 
likely  that  I  should  indulge  in  them  myself." 

"  That  is  a  good  point ;  and  to-morrow  the  wit- 
nesses shall  be  called,"  said  Mr.  Lowington. 

"  I  will  now  ask  Dr.  Winstock  to  make  his  state- 
ment," added  Paul,  turning  to  the  surgeon. 

"  The  letter  is  postmarked  '  Anvers,' "  said  the  doc- 
tor, picking  up  the  letter  from  the  table.  "  It  is 
utterly  impossible  that  Captain  Kendall  had  anything 
to  do  with  this  document." 

"Why  so,  sir?"  demanded  Mr.  Hamblin,  ner- 
vously. 

"  This  letter  passed  through  the  Antwerp  post- 
office.  If  Captain  Kendall  had  mailed  it  there,  I 
should  have  seen  him  do  it.  He  was  not  out  of  my 
sight  a  single  moment  from  the  time  we  left  the  Jose- 
phine till  we  returned  to  her.  This  joaper,"  added  the 
doctor,  taking  up  the  half  quire,  "  was  purchased  in 
Antwerp.     I  went  into  the  shop  with  Captain  Ken- 


VOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    277 

dall,  and   looked    at  the  quality  of   it   before  it  was 
done  up." 

"Are  you  satisfied,  Mr.  Hamblin?"  asked  the  prin- 
cipal. 

"  No,  sir,  I  am  not,"  replied  the  professor,  decidedly. 
"  I  am  by  no  means  certain  that  tiie  paper  on  which 
this  letter  was  written  was  obtained  in  Antwerp.  It 
does  not  follow  because  Dr.  Winstock  did  not  see  Mr. 
Kendall  mail  this  letter,  that  it  was  not  mailed  by  him. 
I  did  not  see  him  mail  it ;  Mr.  Lowington  did  not  see 
him  mail  it.  He  could  have  sent  it  to  the  post-office 
by  a  dozen  of  his  confederates." 

"  Since  Captain  Kendall  desires  that  the  first  lieu 
tenant  and  Duncan  should  be  heard,  we  will  continue 
the  examination  till  to-morrow,"  added  tlie  principal, 
risingf  from  his  chair. 

The  hearing  was  adjourned,  and  Paul  returned  to 
his  room. 

24 


Z'jS  DIKES    AND   DITCHES,    OR 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

MORE    ABOUT    THE    DIKES    AND    DITCHES. 

THE  pilot  of  the  ship  was  discharged  at  eight 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  the  two  vessels  stood 
on  their  course  to  the  northward,  with  a  fresh  breeze 
from  the  south-west.  They  kept  just  outside  of  the 
continuous  chains  of  shoals  on  the  coast,  but  for  nearly 
the  whole  time  within  sight  of  the  numerous  light- 
houses which  mark  the  various  entrances  of  the 
Scheldt  and  the  Maas.  The  masters  on  duty  were 
kept  very  busy  in  consulting  the  charts  and  the 
sailing  directions ;  but  at  one  o'clock  the  squadron 
was  off  the  Brielle  Gat,  which  is  the  deepest  entrance 
to  the  river. 

There  are  two  principal  passages  by  which  vessels 
may  reach  Rotterdam  from  the  sea.  At  the  mouth  of 
the  Maas,  or  of  the  river  which  includes  the  Rhine, 
Waal,  and  Maas,  there  is  a  large  island  called  the 
Voorne.  At  the  north  of  it  is  the  Brielle  Gat,  which 
^  the  most  direct  sea  passage  to  the  city  ;  but  the  bar 
at  its  mouth  has  only  seven  and  a  half  feet  of  water  at 
low  tide.  .  At  the  south  of  the  island  is  the  Goeree 
Gat,  by  which  the  largest  ships  must  enter,  passing 
throusfh  the  island  in  a  canal. 

The  Dutch  pilot  who  boarded  the  ship,  after  learn- 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IX    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    270 

ing  her  draught,  declared  that  she  could  go  over  the 
bar  of  the  Brielle  Gat,  and  both  vessels  went  up  bv 
tills  passage.  At  five  o'clock  in  the  morning  the 
squadron  came  to  anchor  in  the  broad  bay  before  the 
city  of  Rotterdam. 

Paul  Kendall,  free  from  all  care,  and  not  much  dis- 
turbed by  the  cloud  which  hung  over  him,  had  turned 
out  early  to  see  the  sights  on  the  river.  He  had  a 
splendid  prospect  of  windmills,  dikes,  and  ditches. 
The  Dutch  pilot  spoke  intelligible  English,  and  the 
young  inquirer  laid  him  under  contribution  for  his 
stores  of  knowledge.  Paul  asked  a  great  many  ques- 
tions, which  the  pilot  good-naturedly  answered. 

Vlaardingen,  the  principal  2^01"^  engaged  in  the 
herring  fisherv,  was  pointed  out  to  him.  Every  year 
this  place  sends  out  about  a  hundred  and  fifty  ves- 
sels, or  more  than  one  half  of  the  whole  number 
engaged  in  this  branch  of  the  fisheries.  On  the  loth 
or  nth  of  June,  in  each  year,  the  officers  of  the 
herring  fleet  go  to  the  Stadhuis^  or  town  hall,  and 
take  the  prescribed  oath  to  observe  the  laws  regu- 
lating the  fisheries  of  Holland.  Three  days  later  thev 
hoist  their  flags  on  board,  and  go  to  church  to  pray  for 
a  season  of  success.  On  the  following  day,  which  is 
kept  as  a  holiday  in  the  town,  the  fleet  sails.  The  fish- 
ing season  ends  on  the  ist  of  November. 

The  herring  are  highly  prized  by  the  Dutch,  and 
the  first  w^hich  are  caught  by  the  fleet  are  sent  home 
in  the  fastest  vessels  ;  and  when  they  are  expected, 
watchmen  are  stationed  in  the  Vlaardingen  steeple 
to  announce  their  approach.  The  first  kegs  are  sen/ 
to  the   kinof  and    his   chief  officers   of  state.      One  of 


2So  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OK 

these  first  cargoes  produces  about  three  hundred  and 
twenty-five  dollars,  or  eight  hundred  guilders. 

With  a  dense  cloud  of  smoke  hanging  above  it 
stood  the  town  of  Schiedam,  which  contains  nearly 
two  hundred  distilleries  for  the  manufacture  of  gin. 
Holland  gin  and  Schiedam  schnapps  are  regarded  by 
those  who  indulge  in  these  beverages  as  the  best  in  the 
world.  The  place  was  surrounded  by  windmills, 
which  are  a  principal  feature  of  the  scenery  in  all 
parts  of  Holland  proper. 

After  breakfast  the  signal  was  hoisted  for  the  Jose- 
phines to  attend"  the  lecture  on  board  the  ship,  and  a 
boat  was  sent  ashore,  in  charge  of  the  steward,  to  pro- 
cure the  mail.  The  students  were  perched  in  the 
rigging,  observing  the  strange  scenes  which  presented 
themselves  on  every  hand.  The  river  was  full  of 
market  boats  loaded  with  vegetables,  the  principal  of 
which  was  a  coarse  plant,  with  large,  straggling 
leaves,  used  as  cabbage  or  greens.  There  were  large 
and  small  steamers  plying  in  every  direction,  and  the 
scene  was  quite  lively. 

The  Josephine's  ship's  company  came  on  board,  and 
all  hands  were  piped  to  lecture.  Professor  Mapps 
was  at  his  post,  with  the  map  of  the  Netherlands 
hanging  on  the  foremast.  His  description  of  the  dikes 
and  ditches  of  Holland  was  very  full ;  but  such  por- 
tions of  it  as  have  been  given  by  Mr.  Stoute  will  be 
omitted. 

"  Young  gentlemen,"  he  began,  "  I  have  already 
called  your  attention  to  the  physical  geography  of  the 
Netherlands.  The  Rhine,  which  in  Germany  is  the 
Rhecn^  and  in   Holland  the  7?/^j;^,  has   its    mouths  in 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    ^iND    BELGIUM.    2$! 

Holland.  Its  length  is  nine  hundred  and  sixty  miles, 
and  it  is  of  vast  importance  to  Europe  in  a  commercial 
point  of  view,  being  navigable  for  large  vessels  to 
Cologne,  and  nearly  to  its  source  for  smaller  ones, 
though  occasionally  interrupted  by  falls  and  rapids 
above  Basle.  Vessels  of  one  hundred  tons  go  ujd  to 
Strasbourg. 

"The  Rhine  enters  Holland,  and  immediately 
divides  into  two  branches,  the  southern  beins"  the 
Waal,  and  the  northern  retaining  the  original  name. 
The  Waal  is  the  larger  of  the  two,  and  flows  west 
until  it  unites  with  the  Maas,  or  Meuse,  in  Belgium, 
on  one  of  whose  estuaries  our  ship  now  floats.  About 
ten  miles  below  the  Waal  branch,  the  original  Rhine 
divides  again,  the  northern  branch  being  called  the 
Yssel,  which  flows  north  into  theZuyder  Zee.  Thirty 
miles  below  the  Yssel,  it  divides  for  a  third  time,  the 
southern  branch  being  called  the  Leek,  of  which  the 
arm  that  flows  by  Rotterdam  is  the  more  direct  con- 
tinuation, though  all  these  branches  are  connected  by 
frequent  cut-ofls.  The  original  Rhine  pursues  its 
way  to  the  German  Ocean.  The  dunes,  or  sand-hills, 
formerly  closed  up  this  branch,  and  for  a  long  period 
the  water  did  not  flow  through  it ;  but  at  the  beginning 
of  the  present  century  a  canal  was  opened  through 
the  old  bed. 

"  The  Yssel  formerly  flowed  into  a  fresh-water 
fake,  where  the  Zuyder  Zee,  or  Southern  Sea,  now  is. 
Nearly  the  whole  of  the  space  occupied  by  this  sea  was 
then  dry  land  ;  but  the  ocean,  in  the  course  of  time, 
swept  away  its  barriers,  and  covered  the  region 
with  water,  which  is  navigable,  however,  ouly  for 
2^.  * 


382  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

small  vessels.  Amsterdam  is  situated  on  an  arm  of  this 
sea,  called  the  Ij,  or  Eye,  as  it  is  pronounced.  From 
the  Helder,  a  point  of  land  at  the  southern  entrance 
to  the  Zuyder  Zee,  a  ship  canal,  fifty  miles  in  length, 
extends  to  the  city.  This  is  the  '  great  ditch'  of  Hol- 
land. It  is  eighteen  feet  deep,  and  broad  enough  for 
two  large  ships  to  pass  each  other,  having  a  double 
set  of  locks  at  each  end,  in  order  to  keep  the  water  of 
uniform  height,  as  in  a  dock. 

"  You  are  already  familiar  with  the  peculiar  con- 
formation of  Holland.  There  is  not  a  hill,  a  forest, 
or  a  ledge  of  rocks  worth  mentioning  in  the  whole 
region.  A  large  portion  of  its  territory  has  been  re- 
deemed from  the  ocean  by  the  most  persevering  labor, 
and  by  the  most  unremitting  care  and  watchfulness  is 
it  kept  from  destruction.  The  sea  is  higher  than  the 
land,  the  lowest  ground  in  the  country  being  from 
twenty-four  to  thirty  feet  below  high-water  mark.  The 
keel  of  the  Young  America,  floating  in  some  of  the 
waters  of  Holland,  would  be  higher  than  the  ridge-pole 
of  the  Dutchman's  cottage  on  the  other  side  of  the 
dike. 

"  These  low  grounds,  formerly  swamps  and  lagoons, 
which  lie  below  the  sea  level,  are  called  polders. 
These  were  originally  charged  with  w^ater,  and  merely 
shutting  out  the  sea  was  only  half  the  battle.  As  in 
Ireland,  the  principal  fuel  of  the  people  is  peat,  or 
turf,  ten  million  tons  of  which  are  annually  used. 
Immense  excavations  have  been  made  in  the  polders 
to  obtain  the  peat ;  and  the  inhabitants  stand  an  ulti 
mate  chance  of  being  robbed  of  their  country  by  fire 
as  well  as  by  water. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    zS"^ 

"The  natural  lakes  aucl  the  2:)cat-holes  —  the  latter 
from  twelve  to  twenty  feet  deep  —  formed  extensive 
water-basins.  Some  of  you  will  remember  the  turf 
diggings  in  the  great  bog  in  Ireland,  as  we  passed 
through  it  on  our  way  to  Killarney.  The  peat  was 
not  dug  out  in  trenches,  but  the  entire  surface  of  the 
land  was  skimmed  off,  just  as  workmen  in  the  city  dig 
away  a  hill.  It  was  so  in  Holland  ;  and  you  must  un- 
derstand that  the  bottom  of  these  peat-beds  forms  the 
land  now  improved  as  gardens  and  farms. 

''  These  depressions  of  the  surface  were  filled  with 
water.  The  first  thing  to  be  done  is  to  shut  out  the 
ocean  and  its  tributaries  —  all  those  rivers  of  which  I 
have  been  speaking,  that  form  a  network  of  canals  all 
over  the  country.  For  this  purpose  a  dike  is  built  on 
the  border  of  the  land  to  be  enclosed.  Take,  for  ex- 
ample, the  Island  of  Ysselmonde, —  the  land  next  south 
of  us,  —  and  Holland  really  consists  of  nothing  but 
islands  formed  by  the  rivers  and  the  natural  and  arti- 
ficial canals.  It  will,  therefore,  be  a  correct  specimen 
of  the  system  of  dikes  and  ditches  throughout  the 
country,  though  some  of  the  sections  are  subject  to 
greater  or  less  difficulty  in  the  drainage,  owing  to  va- 
rious causes,  which  will  be  explained. 

''  When  the  dike  around  Ysselmonde  is  finished,  the 
country  is  protected  from  inundation  from  without. 
Sometimes  in  winter  the  river  may  be  blocked  with 
ice,  which  stops  the  passage  of  the  water.  All  the 
ice  from  the  Rhine  and  Meuse  must  pass  through 
these  rivers  on  their  way  to  the  sea,  and,  being  stopped 
in  a  narrow  place,  it  forms  a  dam.  In  1799  a  large 
Dortion  of  Holland  was  threatened  with  total  destruc- 


284  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

tion,  on  account  of  one  of  these  blockades.  Behind 
the  dam  the  water  rose  seven  feet  in  one  hour,  over- 
flowing the  dikes,  and  breaking  through  them.  This 
danger  is  incurred  every  winter  ;  but  disaster  is  gen- 
erally warded  oiT  by  the  vigilance  of  the  dike-keepers. 

"  We  will  suppose  that  the  dike  we  have  built 
around  Ysselmonde  protects  it  from  the  exterior 
water  ;  but  as  the  water  in  the  Maas,  at  high  tide,  or 
even  at  low  tide,  is  above  the  surface  of  the  polders, 
they  cannot  be  drained  by  the  ordinary  ditches  ;  and 
it  is  necessary  to  remove  the  water  by  mechanical 
means.  For  this  purpose  windmills  are  erected  on  the 
dike,  —  as  you  see  them  in  every  direction,  —  many 
of  which  work  water-wheels,  pumps  being  but  seldom 
used.  The  apparatus  for  removing  the  water  is  of  sev- 
eral kinds,  including  a  scoop-wheel,  the  screv/  of  Ar- 
chimedes, and  the  inclined  scoop-wheel.  The  water  is 
not  lifted  to  any  considerable  height  by  these  instruments. 

"  When  the  height  to  which  the  water  is  to  be 
raised  is  too  great  to  be  accomplished  by  the  agency 
of  one  machine,  a  series  of  them  is  introduced.  Sup- 
posing the  land  in  the  middle  of  Ysselmonde  to  be 
twenty  feet  below  the  level  of  the  Maas,  four  series  of 
operations  would  be  required  to  lift  the  water.  The 
central  portion  is  enclosed  by  a  dike,  with  a  7'ingsloot^ 
or  canal,  outside  of  it.  The  windmills  raise  the  water 
five  feet.  Outside  of  this,  as  the  level  of  the  land 
rises,  another  canal  and  ditch  are  made,  and  the  water 
is  lifted  another  five  feet;  and  the  process  is  repeated 
until  the  water  is  finally  discharged  into  the  river. 
The  ditches  wliich  separate  the  difterent  tracts  of  land 
•are   used   as  highways,  for    conveying   the  harvest  tc 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    28» 

market,  the  diflerence  of  level  being  overcome  \)y 
locks.  Of  course  the  character  of  these  works  de- 
pends upon  the  formation  of  the  land. 

"  The  soil  of  the  polders  thus  drained  is  remarkably 
rich  and  productive.  The  two  chief  exports  of  Hol- 
land are  butter  and  cheese,  the  low  lands  furnishing 
excellent  pasturage  for  cattle. 

"  In  the  service  of  the  government  is  a  special  corps 
of  engineers,  called  Waterstaat^who  are  employed  in 
watching  the  waters  and  the  dikes,  and  in  guarding 
against  any  breaking  of  the  latter.  In  the  winter 
time,  which  is  the  period  of  the  greatest  peril  to  the 
dikes,  these  men,  many  of  whom  are  gentlemen  of 
the  highest  scientific  culture,  are  stationed  near  the 
places  where  danger  is  apprehended.  Buildings  con- 
tainino-  all  the  necessary  materials  and  tools  for  re- 
pairing  the  embankments  are  provided,  and,  indeed, 
all  precautions  which  skill,  and  science,  and  care  can 
bring  are  at  hand  ;  for  the  safety  of  the  country  de- 
pends upon  these  structures. 

"  The  coat  of  arms  of  one  of  the  Dutch  provinces 
is  a  lion  swimming,  having  this  motto  :  Liictor  ct 
emergo^  '- 1  strive  and  keep  my  head  above  water,' 
which  seems  to  be  the  wdiole  business  of  the  Dutch 
people,  figuratively  and  literally.  If  you  visit  the 
great  dike  of  t\ye  Helder,  as  I  hope  you  will,  you 
may  stand  on  the  low,  land  within  it,  and  hear  the 
thunder  of  the  sea,  as  it  beats  against  the  dike,  fifteen 
feet  higher  than  your  head. 

"  The  canals  of  Holland  serve  a  triple  purpose. 
They  are  the  highways  of  the  country,  they  drain  the 
land,  and  they  serve  as  fences.     You  travel  all  over 


286  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

the  region  in  the  canals,  and  all  the  productions  are 
conveyed  upon  them.  The  roads  are  for  the  most 
part  built  on  the  tops  of  the  dikes,  but  they  are  not 
solid  enough  to  permit  their  use  by  heavily-loaded 
wagons.  Many  of  them  are  paved  with  bricks,  on 
account  of  their  spongy  nature,  which  answers  very 
well  for  the  passage  of  light  vehicles. 

"  The  people  seem  to  have  a  peculiar  aflection  for 
these  ditches,  and  you  will  often  find  that  the  Dutch- 
man has  his  little  private  canal,  extending  around  his 
house,  apparently  only  to  gratify  his  national  vanity, 
though  perhaps  really  it  is  his  fence.  Even  here  in 
Rotterdam,  I  have  noticed  a  filthy  ditch,  from  four 
to  ten  feet  wide,  between  the  house  and  the  road.  It 
is  nearly  filled  with  water,  which  is  covered  with  a 
vile  green  scum.  The  wonder  is,  that  this  stagnant 
water  does  not  breed  a  pestilence. 

"  The  principal  canals  are  sixty  feet  wide,  ,and  six 
feet  deep,  though  of  course  many  in  the  cities  and 
elsewhere,  intended  for  the  passage  of  large  vessels, 
are  broader  and  deeper. 

"  With  this  imperfect  statement  of  the  physical 
characteristics,  as  a  basis  for  your  observation,  I  leave 
the  subject  to  say  a  few  words  about  the  government 
and  history  of  the  country. 

"  William  III.  is  the  present  king  of  the  Nether- 
lands. He  is  forty-seven  years  old,  and  is  a  lineal 
descendant  of  William  of  Orange,  and  a  grandson, 
on  the  mother's  side,  of  Czar  Paul  I.  of  Russia.  He 
has  a  salary,  or  civil  list,  of  two  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars  a  year,  which  is  pretty  fair  pay  for 
ruling   over  a    kingdom  about  the   size   of  the    State 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    2S7 

of  Maryland,  or  of  Massacluisctts  and  Connecticut 
united,  and  containing  a  population  about  equal  to 
that  of  the  State  of  New  York. 

''The  government  is  a  limited  monarchy,  the  whole 
legislative  power  being  vested  in  the  two  chambers 
called  the  States  General.  The  First  Chamber  consists 
of  thirty-nine  members,  elected  by  provincial  coun- 
cils, from  those  inhabitants  who  pay  the  highest 
grade  of  taxes.  The  Second  Chamber  contains  sev- 
enty-two members,  elected  by  general  ballot ;  but 
only  those  who  pay  taxes  to  the  amount  of  fifty  dol- 
lars a  year  are  voters.  All  measures  appropriating 
money  for  any  ^^urpose  must  originate  in  the  Second 
Chamber,  which  is  the  popular  body,  and  become 
laws  onlv  when  assented  to  bv  the  sovereign  and  the 
First  Chamber.  The  king  executes  the  laws  with  the 
aid  of  seven  ministers,  who  receive  a  salary  of  five 
thousand  dollars  a  year. 

"  Free  toleration  is  allowed  to  all  religious  sects. 
Protestants  are  largely  in  the  majority,  the  proportion 
being  as  twenty  to  twelve.  Education  is  generally 
diffused  among  the  people,  in  1863  the  revenue  of 
the  Netherlands  amounted  to  forty-one  millions  of  dol- 
lars. The  Dutch  have  extensive  colonial  possessions 
in  the  East  and  West  Indies,  and  on  the  west  coast  of 
Africa.  The  regular  home  army  contains  fifty-nine 
thousand  officers  and  men.  Its  navy  consists  of  fifty- 
eight  steamers  and  eighty-one  sailing  vessels. 

"  I  do  not  think  you  will  be  likely  to  realize  the 
poetic  ideal  of  the  Dutchmen,  voini""  gfentlemen. 
Though  they  drink  a  great  deal  of  beer  and  Schiedam 
schnapps,    you    will    seldom    find    them    intoxicated; 


SS8  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

and  I  have  never  been  able  to  see  that  they  smoke 
any  more  than  the  people  of  our  own  country.  They 
are  not  necessarily  fiit  and  clumsy.  The  men  are  of 
medium  stature,  in  no  special  degree  distinguished 
from  other  people  in  Europe  and  America.  The 
women  are  very  domestic,  and  very  cleanly  in  their 
persons  and  in  their  dwellings.  The  Dutch  people 
are  prudent,  economical,  beforehanded. 

'-'  In  the  brief  sketch  I  gave  you  at  Antwerp  of  the 
history  of  the  Netherlands,  that  of  Holland  was  in- 
cluded up  to  the  period  of  the  murder  of  the  Prince 
of  Orange,  which  occurred  in  1584,  while  he  was 
Stadtholder  of  the  Seven  United  Provinces.  At  his 
death,  his  son.  Prince  Maurice,  was  elected  Stadt- 
holder in  his  father's  place.  He  was  then  only  sev- 
enteen years  of  age,  but  he  proved  to  be  a  young 
man  of  great  nrilitary  ability,  and  commenced  a  glori- 
ous career,  which  ended  only  with  his  life,  in  1635. 
With  the  bright  example  of  Prince  Maurice  before 
them,  I  think  our  young  captains  of  his  age  may  be 
encouraged." 

This  remark  "  brought  down  the  house,"  and  more 
than  fifty  of  the  students  glanced  at  Paul  Kendall, 
whose  "improbable"  achievements  in  the  Josephine 
vs'ere  the  admiration  of  everybody  in  the  squadron, 
except  Professor  Hamblin. 

"  Philip  n.  died  in  159S,  and  his  successor  con- 
tinued his  eflbrts  to  conquer  the  Dutch,  but  without 
success.  By  this  time  Holland  had  created  the  most 
powerful  navy  in  the  world,  and  with  her  seventy 
thousand  seamen  swept  the  commerce  of  the  Span- 
iards from  the  seas,  even  in  the  remotest  waters  of  the 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    zSi) 

globe.  The  galleons  and  treasure  ships  from  the  colo- 
nies of  Spain  were  captured,  and  their  rich  booty 
poured  into  the  exchequer  of  the  Dutch.  The  mon- 
arch of  Castile  was  almost  impoverished  by  these 
losses  ;  and,  deprived  of  the  means  to  carry  on  the  war 
of  subjugation,  he  agreed,  in  1609,  to  a  truce  of 
twelve  years. 

"  Religious  dissensions  then  broke  out  in  Holland, 
which  soon  assumed  a  political  turn.  The  vStadtholder, 
Prince  ISIain'ice,  was  ambitious  to  become  the  heredi- 
tary sovereign  of  Holland,  in  which  he  was  opposed 
by  Barneveldt,  a  venerable  judge,  aided  by  De  Groot, 
or  Grotius,  a  noted  Dutch  scholar  and  statesman. 
The  opposition  were  styled  '  remonstrants.'  The 
judge  was  charged  with  a  plot  to  hand  his  country 
over  to  the  tyranny  of  Spain  ;  and  though  he  was  a 
pure  patriot,  he  was  condemned  and  executed.  Gro- 
tius, by  au  expedient  which  would  have  been  deemed 
improbable  in  a  novel,  escaped  from  the  Castle  of 
Loevestein. 

"  At  the  expiration  of  the  truce,  Spain  renewed  her 
efforts  to  conquer  Holland  ;  but,  after  a  war  of  tv/cnty- 
seven  years,  the  independence  of  the  country  was 
acknowledged  in  the  peace  of  Westphalia.  During 
this  period  the  Dutch  maintained  their  supremacy  on 
the  sea,  attacking  the  Spanish  possessions  in  all  parts 
of  the  world,  and  especially  in  the  East  Indies,  where 
they  commenced  the  foundation  of  their  empire  in 
that  part  of  the  globe. 

"  The  grrowinji  naval  Dower  of  Holland  excited  the 
apprehensions  of  England,  and  war  was  the  conse- 
quence, in   which   the  Dutch   Admirals  Van  Tromp 

25 


290  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

De  Riiiter,  and  Dc  Witt,  as  well  as  Admiral  Blake 
of  the  British  navy,  won  imperishable  renown. 

''  Prince  Maurice  was  succeeded  at  his  death  by  his 
brother  Henry  ;  but,  in  1650,  the  office  of  Stadtholder 
was  abolished,  and  that  of  Grand  Pensionary  substi- 
tuted.    John  De  Witt  held  the  position. 

"  In  1 668,  France  having  seized  upon  the  Spanish 
Netherlands,  Holland  united  with  England  and  Swe- 
den to  check  the  power  of  the  French  monarch  ;  but 
Charles  II.,  subsidized  by  Louis  XIV.  of  France,  de- 
serted his  ally.  England  and  France  united,  won  Swe- 
den over,  and  formed  a  league  against  Holland.  Louis 
invaded  Holland  wath  an  army  six  times  as  large  as  the 
Dutch  could  bring  into  the  field,  and  conquered  three 
provinces.  The  quarrel  between  the  house  of  Orange 
and  the  party  headed  by  the  Grand  Pen.^ioixary  still 
continued  to  rage.  The  supreme  power  was  in  the 
hands  of  the  States  General.  De  Witt  premised  to 
establish  t'le  government  of  Holland  in  the  Ei«t  India 
possessio'.s,  as  Portugal  did  in  Brazil,  rath<v  I'han 
submit.  The  representaiive  of  the  house  of  ^riv.s^e 
encouraged  the  people  to  resist  at  home,  and  derl^red 
that  he  would  '  die  in  the  last  ditch.'  Ao  the  for'-na- 
tion  of  the  country  rendered  it  exceedingly  probrvbl*' 
that  the  '  last  ditch  '  was  to  be  found  .somewdiere  ii- 
Holland,  the  advice  of  this  Friiice  of  Orange  waj' 
adopted.  The  popular  current  turned  in  his  favor, 
and  against  the  Grand  Pensionary,  who  was  mur- 
dered by  a  mob  at  The  Hague. 

"  The  Prince  of  Orange  was  elected  Stadtholder, 
and  is  known  as  William  III.  Instead  of  seeking  the 
Mast  ditch'  himself,  he  opened  it  for  the  benefit  of  the 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    2C)\ 

invaders.  The  dikes  were  cut,  and  the  country  was 
so  thoroughly  inundated  that  the  French  army  was 
forced  to  retire,  after  sustaining  very  heavy  losses. 
Peace  was  made  with  England  in  1674,  and  three 
years  later,  the  Stadtholder  married  Mary,  daughter 
of  James,  Duke  of  York,  who  became  king  of  Eng- 
land at  the  death  of  his  brother  Charles  II.  By  the 
revolution  of  16SS,  William  and  Mary  w^ere  declared 
joint  sovereigns  of  England. 

"  When  W^illiam  III.  died,  his  cousin  and  next 
heir  was  not  recognized   as  Stadtholder  of  Holland, 

the      _„-  ^ j^:    '^'^rty   being    in    the    ascendant.     A 

repiiblic  was  agal.  organized  under  Heinsius  ;  but, 
in  1747?  the  prince  <  gain  prevailed,  and  the  line  of  the 
Stadtholders  was  resumed  under  William  IV.,  who 
was  succeeded  by  William  V.  In  1795  the  Batavian 
Republic  was  estatlished.  under  the  influence  of  the 
French  Revolution,  France  having  conquered  the 
country. 

''  .  _C»^,  Napoleon  remodelled  the  government, 
anc.  placed  his  bro  ler  Louis,  the  father  of  the  present 
French  emperor,  i  pon  the  throne.  Louis,  who  was 
a  very  moderate  and  sensible  man,  oflended  his 
brother  by  ruling  his  kingdom  in  the  interest  of 
Holland  rather  th>in  France,  and,  after  a  brief  reign 
of  four  years,  was  compelled  to  abdicate.  Najooleoi 
then  annexed  Holland  to  France. 

"  At  the  downfall  of  Napoleon  the  Netherlands 
were  erected  into  a  kingdom,  which  included  Bel- 
gium, as  I  have  before  stated,  and  the  Prince  of 
Orange  was  made  king,  under  the  title  of  W^illiam  I. 
The  present  sovereign  is  his  grandson.     The  Belgian 


Zg2  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 

Revolution  of  1S30  deprived  Holland  of  one  half  ot 
its  territory,  and  more  than  half  of  its  people  ;  but 
these  events  I  mentioned  in  my  lecture  at  Ant- 
werp." 

Mr.  Mapps  retired,  and  Mr.  Lovs^ington  took  his 
place. 

"  Young  gentlemen,"  said  the  principal,  ''  this  after- 
noon we  shall  make  a  steamboat  excursion  to  Dort, 
and  through  some  of  the  arms  of  the  sea,  to  enable 
you  to  see  Dutch  life  from  the  water.  On  ^Monday 
we  shall  start  on  a  grand  excursion  through  Holland, 
visiting  the  following  places  in  the  order  in  which  they 
are  mentioned  :  Delft,  The  Hague,  Leyden,  Harlem, 
Amsterdam,  Sardam,  Broek,  Alkmaar,  The  Helder, 
and  Utrecht.  The  programme  will  enable  you  to  see 
all  the  interesting  points  of  Holland,  including  the 
capital,  the  drained  lake  of  Harlem,  and  the  great 
dike  of  the  Helder. 

"  The  water  of  Holland  is  very  bad,  and  drank  in  any 
considerable  quantities  would  probably  make  you  sick. 
Spring  water,  brought  from  Utrecht  in  stone  jars, 
may  be  obtained  in  the  large  towns.  Whenever  it 
is  practicable,  I  shall  see  that  you  are  su^^plied  with 
it ;  but  avoid  the  common  water.  You  will  now  re- 
sume your  studies." 

Mr.  Hamblin  took  his  place  with  the  other  profess- 
ors, and  the  studies  of  the  ship  went  on  as  usual. 
The  mail  came  on  board,  and,  when  school  was  dis- 
missed, the  letters  were  distributed.  The  first  lieu- 
tenant of  the  Josephine  and  Duncan  were  invited  to 
the  main  cabin  to  give  their  evidence  in  regard  to  the 
trouble  between  Paul  and  the  professor. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    2g% 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

AN    EXCURSION    AMONG    THE    DIKES. 

TERRILL  and  Duncan,  with  the  letters  in  their 
hands  which  they  had  just  received,  entered  the 
main  cabin.  Tliey  were  called  upon,  in  the  presence 
of  Mr.  Lowington  and  Mr.  Hamblin,  as  well  as  Cap- 
tain Kiendall,  to  give  their  testimony,  which  went  to 
show  that  the  commander  was  thoroughly  and  heartily 
opposed  to  any  demonstration  against  the  obnoxious 
instructor. 

"What  did  Mr.  Kendall  say  to  you?"  asked  Mr. 
Hamblin. 

"  He  asked  me  to  use  my  influence  with  the  fellows 
to  prevent  anything  being  done,  and  wnshed  me  to  let 
them  all  know  that  he  would  not  tolerate  anything 
irregular,"  replied  Duncan. 

"  Did  he,  indeed  !  "  sneered  Mr.  Hamblin. 

"  He  did,  indeed,"  answered  Duncan,  with  a  twin- 
kle of  the  eye. 

"How  happened  he  to  say  as  much  as  this  to  you?" 
demanded  the  professor. 

"  Because,  being  an  old  friend  and  schoolmate  of 
Captain  Kendall,  I  happened  to  tell  him  that  the  fel- 
lows were  inclined  to  haze  Mr.  Hamblin." 

"To  haze  me!"  exclaimed  Mr.  Hamblin. 
25* 


394  DIKES   AND   DITCHES,  OR 

"  I  understand  that  wc  are  to  tell  the  whole  truth 
here,"  added  Duncan,  who  seemed  to  enjoy  the  con- 
fusion of  the  learned  gentleman.  "  I  didn't  hear  of 
any  particular  plans  ;  but  the  fellows  kept  hinting  at 
something." 

"Did  they,  indeed?" 

"  They  did,  indeed." 

"  But  you  don't  know  what  they  were?" 

"  I  do  not,  sir." 

"  Can  you  tell  me  wdio  wrote  the  letter  I  asked  you 
to  translate?" 

"  No  sir,  I  cannot." 

Mr.  Lowington  asked  some  questions  of  the  witness  ; 
and  it  was  evident  to  him  that  the  disaffection  on 
board  of  the  Josephine  was  more  general  than  he  had 
before  suspected.  Terrill  was  called  upon  to  explain 
still  further  the  position  of  the  captain  ;  and  Duncan 
opened  his  letters,  being,  as  all  the  boys  were,  anxious 
to  hear  from  home.  He  had  two  letters.  Besides  the 
one  from  his  mother,  there  was  another  postmarked 
at  Colosrne,  which  he  read  after  he  had  finished  the 
first. 

As  Duncan  read  this  Cologne  letter  his  face  became 
quite  red,  and  he  was  not  a  little  agitated.  By  the 
time  he  had  finished  both  of  them,  the  first  lieutenant 
had  told  all  he  knew  in  regard  to  the  captain's 
position.  He  was  very  candid  in  making  his  state- 
ment, and  took  no  pains  to  conceal  the  general  dis- 
gust felt  on  board  of  the  consort  at  the  conduct  of  Mr. 
Hamblin  ;  and  he  took  no  pains  to  conceal  the  fact 
that  he  shared  the  feelings  of  his  shipmates. 

"  I  should  like  *o  add  something  to  my  former  state- 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IX    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    295 

nient,  if  you  please,  Mr.  Lovvington,"  siiitl  Duncan, 
rising,  with  the  Cologne  letter  in  his  hand. 

"  What  do  you  wish  to  add?"  asked  the  principal. 

"I  know  now  who  w^rote  the  letter  to  Mr.  Ilam- 
hlin." 

''Who?" 

"  Richard  H.  Linggold." 

"Who  is  he?" 

"  He  is  an  old  schoolmate  of  mine,  whom  I  met  in 
Antwerp  the  afternoon  we  first  went  ashore  there," 
replied  Duncan,  who  now  appeared  to  be  considerably 
embarrassed. 

"Was  he  a  schoolmate  of  Mr.  Kendall  also?" 
demanded  Mr.  Hamblin,  who  was  more  anxious  to 
connect  the  letter  with  him  than  to  promote  the  dis- 
cipline of  the  students, 

"  No,  sir  ;  I  don't  think  Captain  Kendall  ever  saw 
Linggold." 

"  We  are  to  conclude,  Duncan,  that  you  put  him  up 
to  this  mischief,"  added  Mr.  Lowington. 

"  Yes,  sir  ;   I  did,"  answered  Duncan,  candidly. 

"  Why  did  you  virtually  deny  all  knowledge  of  the 
letter  when  I  appealed  to  the  ship's  company  before 
the  suspension  of  Captain  Kendall,"  continued  Mr. 
Lowington,  sternly. 

"  I  will  explain.  I  met  Linggold  in  Antwerp,  and 
spent  an  hour  with  him  at  die  Hotel  St.  Antoine, 
where  he  was  staying  with  his  uncle.  He  wanted  to 
know  about  the  academy  squadron,  and  I  told  iiim 
all  about  both  vessels.  As  the  trouble  we  had  had  in 
the  Josephine  was  uppermost  in  the  minds  of  all  ot 
us,  I  told  him  all  about  that." 


296  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

"  Did  you,  indeed?"  said  Mr.  Hamblin. 

"  I  did,  indeed.  I  am  willing  to  acknowledge  that 
I  intended  to  join  with  the  rest  of  the  fellows  in  hazing 
Mr.  Hamblin." 

"Are  you,  indeed?"  sneered  the  professor,  so 
wrathy  that  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  keep  his 
seat,  and  he  began  to  stride  up  and  down  the  cabin. 

"  I  am,  indeed.  About  a  dozen  of  us  were  going 
to  write  letters  to  Mr.  Hamblin  from  all  the  big  bugs, 
including  Louis  Napoleon,  the  King  of  Holland,  the 
King  of  Belgium,  and  all  the  Ministers  of  State  whose 
names  we  could  find  out." 

"Were  you,  indeed?"  gasped  the  savant,  passing 
before  the  witness. 

"  We  were,  indeed.  I  told  Linggold  what  we  were 
going  to  do,  and  he  promised  to  help  me,  being  a 
first-rate  French  and  German  scholar  ;  but  I  told  him 
we  didn't  want  any  help,  and  that  he  would  get  me 
into  a  scrape  if  he  meddled  with  the  matter.  I  meant 
to  have  the  letters  mailed  in  some  place  where  none 
of  us  ever  went.'  I  told  Lino^s^old  I  wanted  him  to 
take  the  letters  and  mail  them  at  Cologne,  and  other 
places  he  went  to  in  his  travels  ;  and  he  promised  to 
do  so.  I  didn't  think  of  such  a  thing  as  his  writing 
any  letter  after  what  I  said.  I  left  him  then,  and 
haven't  seen  or  heard  from  him  since  till  now.  He 
must  have  written  the  letter  right  off,  and  mailed 
it  at  once,  for  it  came  on  board  the  Josephine  that 
night." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  that  you  didn't  know  this 
letter  was  to  be  written?"  demanded  Mr.  Hamblin, 
sharply. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    297 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  When  I  asked  you  to  give  me  a  translation  of  it, 
.verc  yoii  not  aware  that  it  was  a  forgery?  " 

"  I  supposed  it  w'as." 

"  You  knew  it  was  !  " 

"  No,  sir  ;  I  did  not.  I  had  no  knowledge  whatever 
in  regard  to  the  writer.  It  did  not  occur  to  me,  after 
what  had  passed  between  Linggold  and  me,  that  he 
wrote  the  letter.  I  believed  it  was  done  by  some  fel- 
low on  board.  When  the  captain  was  arrested,  all 
the  fellows  tried  to  find  out  who  had  sent  the  letter, 
but  no  one  would  acknowledge  it." 

"  Did  you  write  any  letters  of  this  description, 
Dimcan?"  asked  the  principal. 

"  No,  sir.  I  had  two  conversations  with  the  cap- 
tain ;  and  when  he  asked  me  to  do  what  I  could  to 
prevent  any  tricks  being  played  upon  the  professor, 
I  determined  not  to  have  anything  to  do  with  the  let- 
ters, or  any  practical  jokes  of  any  kind.  I  can  bring 
a  dozen  fellows  to  prove  that  I  said  all  I  could  to 
keep  them  from  playing  any  tricks." 

"  What  does  your  friend  say  in  his  letter?  " 

*'  He  says  the  joke  was  so  good  he  couldn't  resist 
the  temptation  to  send  the  first  letter  to  the  professor 
himself,  and  wants  to  know  why  I  didn't  send  the 
letters  to  him  that  I  promised?  " 

^' Why  didn't  you?" 

"After  what  the  captain  said,  I  persuaded  the  fel- 
lows not  to  write  the  letters,  and  I  did  not  write  any 
myself.  This  letter  is  on  the  same  kintl  of  paper  as 
that,"  added  Duncan,  pointing  to  that  which  Paul 
had. 


298  DIKES   AND    DITCHES,    OR 

''Are  you  satisfied,  Mr.  Hambliii?"  asked  Mr. 
Lowington. 

"  No,  sir,  I  am  not,"  replied  the  professor,  decid- 
edly. "  It  appears  that  there  was  an  organized  con- 
spiracy against  me  in  the  consort." 

"  But  it  does  not  appear  that  Captain  Kendall  had 
anything  to  do  with  it,"  added  the  principal,  mildly. 

"  These  boys  are  deceitful." 

"  Some  of  them  are,"  replied  Mr.  Lowington,  tak- 
ing his  pen  and  writing  a  few  lines.  "  Duncan,  I  am 
not  satisfied  with  your  conduct." 

"  I  am  not  satisfied  with  it  myself,  sir,"  answered 
Duncan.  "  Perhaps  I  ought  to  have  known  where 
that  letter  came  from  when  Mr.  Hamblin  asked  me 
to  translate  it ;  but  I  supposed  some  of  the  fellows  on 
board  had  done  it." 

"  Didn't  you  recognize  the  writing  of  your  friend?" 

"  No,  sir  ;  it  is  very  much  like  that  of  half  a  dozen 
fellows  on  board." 

"  It  is  very  much  like  Mr.  Kendall's,"  said  Mr. 
Hamblin. 

"  Linggold,  Captain  Kendall,  and  myself,  all  learned 
to  write  in  the  same  school." 

"  Then  Mr.  Kendall  knows  this  Linggold?  " 

"  No,  sir  ;  he  didn't  go  to  tlie  school  till  Captain 
Kendall  left." 

"  I  suppose  not,"  added  tlie  incredulous  professor. 
"  I  am  still  of  the  opinion  that  Mr.  Kendall  wrote 
that  letter." 

"  I  am  entirely  satisfied  that  he  did  not  write  it. 
Dimcan,  you  will  remain  on  board  of  the  ship.  Mr. 
Terrill,  you  will  return  to  the  Josephine,  pipe  to  mus- 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    299 

ter,  and  read  this  order.  Captain  Kcntlall  will  return 
with  you." 

"  What  is  the  order?"  demanded  Mr.  Ilamblin. 

"  '  All  charges  against  Captain  Kendall  being  dis- 
proved, lie  is  hereby  reinstated,  and  ordered  to  resume 
the  command  of  the  Josephine,'  "  replied  the  princi- 
pal, reading  the  order. 

"  Mr.  Lowington,  I  protest  —  " 

"  I  have  heard  you  patiently,  Mr.  Hamblin,  and 
have  given  my  decision,"  interposed  the  principal, 
directing  the  students  present  to  retire. 

Paul  bowed  to  Mr.  Lowington,  and  left  the  cabin. 
The  investigation  had  ended  as  he  had  supposed  from 
the  beginning  that  it  would  end. 

"  Mr.  Lowington,  I  protest  against  this  decision," 
repeated  Mr.  Hamblin,  angrily.  "  I  feel  obliged  to 
say  that  there  has  been  a  great  lack  of  judgment  in 
managing  this  unpleasant  business." 

"And  I  feel  obliged  to  remind  you,  Mr.  Hamblin, 
that  I  am  the  principal  of  this  academy  squadron. 
My  decision  is  final,"  replied  Mr.  Lowington,  w^ith 
di^'nitv,  as  he  rose  from  his  chair  and  left  the  cabin. 

"  Snubbed  by  the  boys,  snubbed  by  the  principal  I  " 
exclaimed  the  learned  gentleman.  "  Dr.  Winstock, 
did  you  ever  witness  a  more  ridiculous  farce  in  your 
life?" 

"  Never,  sir,"  replied  the  surgeon.  "  It  seems  to 
me  that  you  insist  upon  condemning  Captain  Kendall, 
guilty  or  innocent." 

"  I  have  no  doubt  wdiatever  of  his  guilt.  Those 
boys  are  all  in  league  with  each  other,  Kendall  in- 
cluded.    There  is  a  conspiracy  to  annoy  me,  and  to 


3DO 


DIKES    AND    DITCHF:S,    OR 


get  rid  of  me  ;  but  thc}^  will  fiiul  they  have  mistaken 
their  man  in  me,  if  they  haven't  in  anybody  else ! 
Dr.  ^Vinstock,  I  tell  yon  the  letter  Duncan  held  in  his 
hand  was  a  fiction  !  I  have  been  with  students  all 
my  life,  and  I  know  them." 

''Why  a  fiction?" 

"  That  Duncan,  who  is  a  very  plausible  young  man, 
and  a  friend  of  Kendall,  mind,  is  at  the  bottom  of  all 
this  mischief.  He  wrote  the  Cologne  letter  himself. 
It  was  got  up,  and  sent  enclosed  to  the  postmaster  at 
Cologne,  who  of  course  forwarded  it  to  Rotterdam. 
It  is  a  trick  to  disprove  the  charge  against  Kendall." 

Mr.  Hamblin  was  very  much  excited,  and  developed 
his  theory  in  full  to  the  surgeon,  who  quietly  pointed 
out  its  discrepancies.  He  insisted  that  the  students 
of  the  Josephine  had  thorned  and  irritated  him  for 
the  sole  purpose  of  getting  rid  of  him,  and  that  Paul 
was  at  the  bottom  of  the  mischief. 

"  When  Mr.  Lowington  has  been  among  students 
as  long  as  I  have,  he  will  understand  them  better," 
he  added,  triumphantly,  for  he  was  satisfied  that  he 
had  established  his  position.  "  The  Josephine  is  an 
utter  failure !  The  plan  is  absurd  and  ridiculous. 
The  senior  professor  has  no  authority ;  or  it  is  di- 
vided with  a  boy  who  hates  Greek !  " 

Dr.  Winstock  had  heard  quite  enough  on  the  sub- 
ject, and  it  was  a  great  relief  to  him  when  the  dinner- 
bell  rang.  At  this  moment  three  times  three  rousing 
cheers  came  over  the  water  from  the  Josephine.  It 
was  not  difiicult  to  determine  the  occasion  of  this 
demonstration  ;  but  Mr.  Hamblin  declared  it  was 
another  evidence  that  the  students  in  the  consort  were 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    3OI 

all  in  league,  and  that  the  captain  of  her,  instead  of 
being  cheered,  ought  to  be  in  the  brig. 

Before  the  dinner  was  fniished,  a  Dutch  steamer, 
which  Mr.  Fluxion  had  engaged,  came  alongside  tl)e 
ship,  and  all  hands  were  piped  on  board.  vShe  then 
went  to  the  Josephine,  and  received  her  company. 

"  This  steamer  does  not  seem  to  be  much  diflerent 
from  those  we  saw  in  England,"  said  Paul,  as  he 
seated  liimself  with  Dr.  Winstock  where  they  could 
see  the  countr}'  on  both  sides  of  the  river. 

"  Not  very  different,  but  it  is  very  unlike  an  Ameri- 
can boat,"  replied  the  surgeon. 

''  The  steering  apparatus  is  not  like  anything  I  ever 
saw  before,"  added  Paul.  ''  The  helmsman  stands  on 
a  raised  platform,  and  his  wheel  revolves  horizon- 
tally." 

"  All  the  Rhine  steamers  have  tliat  arrangement." 

"  I  think  a  wheel-house  forward  is  ever  so  much 
better.     I  see  the  cook  is  a  woman." 

"  Yes  ;  all  the  Rhine  steamers  have  female  cooks. 
This  boat,  I  believe,  belongs  to  the  Moerdyk  line. 
Passengers  from  Antwerp  come  by  railroad  to  ISIoer- 
dvk.  and  there  take  the  steamer  to  Rotterdam.  This 
country  is  very  favorable  to  railroads  in  being  level, 
but  very  unfavorable  in  the  number  of  rivers  and  cut- 
offs to  be  crossed,  which  it  is  impossible  to  bridge." 

The  steamer  stood  up  the  Leek,  and  turned  into  the 
Merwe,  which  is  a  branch  five  or  six  miles  in  length, 
connecting  the  Leek  and  the  Waal.  On  each  side 
was  a  dike,  of  course  ;  but  the  view  from  the  steamer 
showed  only  an  ordinary  bank.  The  top  of  it  was 
bioad,  and  occasionally  there  was  a  neat  cottage  or 
26 


T^OZ  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

a  little  inn  upon  the  top  of  it.  The  roof  or  chimney 
of  a  house  beyond  it  was  frequently  observed,  other- 
wise the  uninformed  traveller  would  not  have  sus- 
pected the  character  of  the  country.  The  embank- 
ment was  studded  with  windmills,  placed  on  the 
highest  ground,  to  give  the  sails  the  full  benefit  of 
the  wind.  vSome  of  them  wxre  used  for  grinding 
grain,  some  for  sawing  lumber,  and  others  for  forcing 
the  water  up  from  the  low  ground  into  the  river. 

The  steamer  passed  from  the  Mervve  into  the  Waal, 
and  stood  up  the  river.  There  was  but  little  variation 
in  the  scenery.  The  wall  of  dikes  on  either  side  was 
uninterrupted.  Sometimes  they  were  lined  with  rows 
of  trees,  between  which  was  the  common  road  ;  at 
others  they  were  bare  and  naked.  The  captain  of  the 
steamer  told  them  that  a  portion  of  the  country  in 
the  vicinity  was  lower  than  the  bottom  of  the  river. 
The  whole  region  seemed  to  be  saturated  with  water, 
and  the  wonder  is  that  the  people  can  go  to  bed  at 
night  with  any  assurance  that  they  will  not  be  drowned 
out  before  morning. 

''  There  is  the  Castle  of  Loevestein,"  said  the  captain 
of  the  boat,  who  spoke  good  English,  "  and  the  fort 
below  has  the  same  name." 

"Did  you  ever  hear  of  it  before?"  asked  Mr. 
Mapps,  who  was  on  the  lookout  for  places  of  histori- 
cal interest,  as  he  turned  to  a  group  of  seamen. 

'^  You  mentioned  it  this  morning,"  replied  one  of 
the  students. 

"  In  what  connection?" 

"  Some  man  had  a  wonderful  escape  from  it,"  added 
another. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    305 

''Who  was  that  mail?" 

"A  Dutchman  with  a  Latin  name." 

"Grotiiis,  or  De  Groot,"  added  Mr.  Mapps.  "  The 
Stadtholder,  Prince  Maurice,  the  boy  general  and  ruler, 
wished  to  make  himself  hereditary  sovereiefu  of  the 
Netherlands,  and  was  opposed  by  the  jud<^e,  Barne- 
reldt,  and  Grotius.  The  prince  carried  the  day  ; 
Barneveldt  was  executed,  and  Grotius  imprisoned  in 
this  castle,  where  he  was  kept  nearly  two  \ears.  He 
was  very  strictly  guarded  at  first ;  but  his  wife,  finding 
that  the  vigilance  of  the  sentinels  was  relaxed,  devised 
a  scheme  for  effecting  his  liberation.  The  books,  j^a- 
pers,  and  linen  of  the  prisoner  were  conveyed  to  him 
in  a  large  box,  which  the  guards,  having  so  often 
searched  in  vain  for  contraband  articles,  at  last  neg- 
lected to  examine.  The  box,  and  the  carelessness 
of  the  soldiers,  suggested  to  the  wife  of  Grotius  the 
means  of  getting  her  husband  out  of  the  castle. 

"She  prepared  the  chest  by  boring  some  holes- in 
it,  for  the  admission  of  the  air,  and  took  her  servant- 
girl  into  her  confidence.  The  box  was  conveyed  to 
the  apartment  of  Grotius,  and  the  project  explained 
to  him.  He  did  not  relish  the  idea  of  being  shut  up 
in  a  chest,  and  rolled  about  in  a  boat ;  but  his  wife's 
entreaties  prevailed  over  his  scruples.  It  was  pre- 
tended that  the  box  was  filled  with  books  which  the 
learned  man  had  borrow-ed  inGorcimi,the  town  which 
you  see  on  the  other  side  of  the  river. 

"  The  chest,  containing  the  philosopher,  was  con- 
veyed by  the  soldiers  down  to  the  boat,  in  charge  of 
the  servant-girl.  When  one  of  them  complained  of  its 
weight,  the  man  said  it  was  theArminian  books  which 


304  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

were  so  heavy  ;  for  Grotius  ^vas  an  Armlnlan  in  his 
theology.  The  soldier  suggested  tliat  it  was  the 
Arminian  himself;  hut  this  was  intended  as  a  joke, 
and  the  hox  was  tumhled  into  the  boat.  The  servant 
made  a  signal  with  her  handkerchief  to  her  mistress, 
who  was  looking  out  of  the  window,  to  indicate  that 
all  was  right. 

''  When  the  boat  reached  Gorcum,  the  box  was  con- 
veyed to  the  house  of  a  friend  of  Grotius,  of  whom  it 
was  presumed  that  he  had  borrowed  the  books.  The 
servant-girl  told  him  that  her  master  was  in  the  box, 
and  begged  his  assistance  ;  but  he  was  so  terrified,  in 
view  of  the  consequences,  that  he  refused  to  have  any- 
thing to  do  with  the  matter.  His  wife,  however,  had 
more  pluck  in  the  service  of  a  friend,  and,  having 
sent  all  her  domestics  out  of  the  house  on  various 
errands,  she  opened  the  box,  and  released  the  phi- 
losopher from  durance  vile. 

"  Grotius,  who  had  suffered  no  serious  inconve- 
nience from  his  confinement  in  the  box,  which  was 
only  three  and  a  half  feet  long,  was  disguised  as  a 
mason,  and,  with  a  rule  and  trowel  in  his  hand,  was 
conducted  to  a  boat,  and  sent  into  Belgium,  where  he 
was  safe  from  pursuit. 

"  The  philosopher's  wife  remained  hi  the  room  oc- 
cupied by  her  husband  in  the  castle,  and  used  every 
means  to  conceal  his  escape.  She  lighted  the  lamp 
in  his  room  at  dark,  by  which  the  governor  of  the 
prison  was  deceived.  She  was  arrested  and  impris- 
oned for  a  short  time  ;  but  when  discharged,  she  joined 
her  husband  in  Paris,  whither  he  had  gone." 

"  There  is  a  frigate  in  the  Dutch  navy  called  the 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    305 

Mniie  van  Rcigersberch,  named  ftn-  the  wife  of  Gro- 
tius,"  added  the  captain  of  the  steamer,  who  had  been 
an  attentive  listener  to  the  stor}-. 

The  steamer  went  but  a  short  distance  farther  up 
the  Waal,  and  then  came  al)out.  She  soon  reached 
Dort,  or  Dordrecht,  where  she  made  a  landing,  and 
the  students  wandered  for  an  hour  through  the  streets 
of  this  ancient  town. 

"  This  is  a  musty  old  place,"  said  Paul,  as  he  walked 
up  one  of  the  streets  with  a  canal  in  the  middle  of  it, 
in  company  with  Mr.  Fluxion  and  the  surgeon  ;  "  I 
shouldn't  feel  safe  here  unless  I  lived  in  a  boat." 

"  Many  of  the  people  live  in  boats,  as  you  perceive," 
added  Mr.  Fluxion,  as  he  pointed  to  a  gayly-painted 
craft,  on  the  deck  of  which  was  a  group  of  children. 

At  the  little  window  in  the  stern  sat  a  woman,  sew- 
ing, while  another  was  knitting  near  the  cabin  door. 
There  w^ere  white  muslin  curtains  at  the  stern  jDorts, 
and  what  could  be  seen  of  the  interior  of  the  apart- 
ment indicated  that  it  was  kept  extremely  neat. 

"  I  think  I  should  prefer  to  live  in  something  that 
would  float,  in  case  of  accident,"  laughed  the  doc- 
tor, "  especially  in  this  part  of  Holland.  The  opera- 
tion of  the  water  is  wonderful.  The  channel  in  front 
of  Dort  was  formed  by  an  inundation  which  separated 
the  town  from  the  main  land,  leaving  it  deep  enough 
to  float  the  largest  Indiaman." 

"The  Leek,  on  which  we  sailed  for  a  time  after 
leaving  Rotterdam,  was  a  canal  dug  by  the  Romans 
to  connect  the  Rhine  and  the  Waal,"  added  Mr.  Flux- 
ion. "  A  freshet  cleaned  it  out,  and  tore  away  its 
banks  so  as  to  make  the  present  broad  river  of  it.  In 
26* 


2C6  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

an  inundation  a  few  years  later,  seventy-two  villages 
were  swept  away,  and  one  hundred  thousand  people 
lost  their  lives.  Thirty-five  of  these  villages  were 
never  heard  from  afterwards,  and  not  even  their  ruins 
could  be  found." 

"  I  should  emigrate  if  I  lived  here,"  said  Paul. 

"  The  people  of  Holland  are  very  much  attached  to 
their  country,"  replied  Dr.  Winstock. 

"  Well,  they  ought  to  be,  on  the  jorinciple  that  we 
like  best  what  has  cost  lis  the  most  trouble  to  procure," 
added  Paul.  "  It  seems  to  me  a  great  pity  that  people 
should  struggle  here  to  keep  their  heads  above  water, 
when  we  have  so  much  s^^are  land  in  America.  We 
could  take  them  all  in  without  feeling  it." 

"  Dutchmen  would  not  feel  at  home  on  high 
ground." 

"  We  could  plant  them  down  in  Louisiana,  and  even 
treat  them  to  an  occasional  inundation." 

"  Certainly  we  should  be  very  happy  to  accommo- 
date them  with  a  country.  W^e  have  a  great  many 
Dutchmen  already,  and  they  make  thrift}-,  industrious, 
and  useful  people,"  continued  the  doctor.  "  But  I 
think,  if  Holland  w^ere  blotted  out  of  existence,  the 
world  would  miss  it  very  much." 

"This  is  a  great  lumber  port,"  said  Mr.  Fluxion. 
"  Those  great  rafts  which  Hoat  down  the  Rhine  from 
Switzerland  are  mostly  brought  to  this  'place.  I  hope 
the  boys  will  have  a  chance  to  see  one  of  those  rafts, 
for  they  are  stupendous  affairs.  One  of  them  some- 
times contains  a  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars' 
worth  of  lumber,  and  has  a  crew  of  four  or  five  hun- 
dred men." 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    30^ 

"  I  think  I  heard  Mr.  Lowington  say  that  wc  were 
to  go  down  the  Rhine,"  replied  PauL 

"That  is  the  Kloveniers  Doelcn,"  said  Mr.  Fhixion, 
as  he  led  his  companions  into  a  back  street  and  point- 
ed out  an  old  Gothic  building.  "  It  was  here  that  thc> 
Protestant  divines  discussed  the  doctrines  of  the  re- 
formed religion,  whose  '  miraculous  labors  made  hell 
tremble,'  to  quote  the  words  of  its  presiding  officer. 
The  assembly  is  called  in  history  the  Synod  of  Dort. 
The  building,  as  you  may  see  by  reading  the  sign,  is 
now  a  low  public  house  and  dance-hall." 

"Reading  the  sign!"  exclaimed  Paul,  laughing; 
"  a  fellow  would  knock  all  the  teeth  out  of  his  head 
in  attempting  to  speak  some  of  these  words." 

"  But  many  of  them  are  very  like  English  words. 
A  dike  is  a  dijk.'' 

"  Steamboats  are  stoo?}iboote?i"  said  Paul ;  "  and  a 
street  is  a  straat.     What  are  canals?  " 

"  Grachten;  the  drawbridge  is  ophaalbruggcn'' 

''  Whew  1  "  whistled  Paul. 

"  But  you  can  observe  something  like  open-bridge 
in  the  sound.  You  see  that  the  spicgcls  are  very  com- 
mon here." 

"  I  see  they  are  ;  but  I  haven't  the  least  idea  what 
they  are." 

"  The  little  mirrors  placed  outside  the  windows." 

"  I  saw  plenty  of  them  in  Antwerp." 

"  They  are  not  as  common  there  as  in  Holland, 
where  they  are  to  be  seen  attached  to  almost  every 
house.  By  this  contrivance  a  Dutch  dame  can  see 
every  person  that  passes  in  the  street,  without  raising 


3o8  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

the  blinds.     But  I  think  the  hour  is  nearly  up,  and  we 
must  return  to  the  steamer,"  said  Mr.  Fluxion. 

Tlie  party  went  on  board,  and  the  steamer  returned 
to  Rotterdam  by  a  different  route  from  that  by  which 
she  had  come.  The  next  day  was  Sunday.  After 
the  second  service  on  board  the  ship,  Mr.  Fluxion,  hav- 
ing occasion  to  go  on  shore,  invited  Paul  to  accompa- 
ny him. 

"  It  will  not  seem  much  like  Sunday  to  you  in  Rot- 
terdam," said  the  vice-principal,  as  they  landed  at  the 
qual. 

"  I  supposed  the  Dutch  were  very  strict." 
"  Some  of  them  are.  Look  down  that  street,"  said 
Mr.  Fluxion,  as  he  pointed  to  the  broad  avenue  which 
bordered  the  great  river.  "You  observe  that  the 
quais  are  all  lined  with  ships.  In  the  houses  oppo- 
site live  the  merchants.  They  occupy  the  upper  sto- 
ries of  the  buildings,  while  the  lower  are  used  as 
counting-rooms  and  storehouses.  The  ship-owner  sits 
at  his  parlor  window  and  witnesses  the  unlading  of 
his  vessel." 

They  walked  up  to  the  Hotel  des  Pays-Bas,  which 
the  traveller  is  informed  by  its  card  is  situated  in  the 
Korte  Hoogstraat^  wljk  iV^  3S7,  where  Mr.  Fluxion 
desired  to  see  a  gentleman  who  had  engaged  to  meet 
him  there.  In  one  of  the  public  rooms  a  party  were 
playing  cards,  drinking,  and  smoking,  and  talking 
Dutch  in  the  most  vehement  manner.  After  a  stay  of 
an  hour  at  the  hotel,  they  returned  to  the  qual^  pass. 
ing  through  Zaiidstraat^  which  was  filled  with  peo- 
ple, shouting,  singing,  and  skylarking.  About  every 
other  shop  appeared  to  be  a  drinking  saloon,  in  which 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    309 

a  fiddle  or  a  hurdy-gurdy  was  making  wild  music, 
while  the  floor  was  crowded  with  men  and  women 
dancing. 

In  another  street  they  encountered  a  mock  proces- 
sion of  girls  and  boys,  singing  in  the  most  stormy  man- 
ner as  they  marched  along.  It  was  not  at  all  like 
Sunday,  and  Paul  was  so  shocked  at  the  desecration 
of  the  day,  that  he  was  glad  to  regain  the  silence  of 
his  cabin  in  the  Josephine. 


3lO  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

A    RUN    THROUGH    HOLLAND. 

LIKE  that  of  all  impulsive  men,  the  wrath  of  Mr. 
Hamblin  was  short-lived,  though  he  still  felt  that 
he  was  greatly  abused,  greatly  distrusted,  and  greatly 
under-estimated  ;  and  the  last  was  the  greatest  sin  of 
all.  After  the  first  blast  of  his  anger  at  the  final  de- 
cision of  the  principal  had  subsided,  he  was  disposed 
to  be  more  politic.  Mr.  Lowington  had  snubbed  him, 
which  was  a  great  mistake  on  Mr.  Lowington's  part. 

Mr.  Hamblin  knew  that  he  was  an  older  man  than 
the  principal,  and  he  felt  that  he  was  a  wiser  one,  and 
his  employer  ought  to  consult  him,  defer  to  his  opin- 
ion, and  take  his  advice.  He  did  not  do  this  to  the 
extent  the  learned  gentleman  demanded ;  and  the 
Academy  ShijD  was  the  sufferer  thereb}-,  not  himself. 
If  Mr.  Lowington  could  stand  it,  he  could,  disagree- 
able as  it  was.  If  Mr.  Hamblin  had  been  pecuniarily 
independent,  he  would  have  thrown  up  his  situation, 
and  visited  the  classic  lands  alone  ;  but  as  he  was  not 
able  to  do  this,  he  decided  to  submit  to  Mr.  Lowing- 
ton's caprices,  and  give  the  institution  the  benefit  of 
his  valuable  services. 

If  the  students  had  known  of  this  decision,  they 
A^ould  have  remonstrated  against  it.     As  it  was,  they 


to 


< 

H 

o 
o 
Q 

bi 

a 

H 

a 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    31I 

protested  in  their  own  way.  On  Saturday  night,  after 
the  return  of  the  students  from  the  excursion,  while 
tlie  savaiit  was  promenading  the  deck  for  his  needed 
exercise,  not  less  than  three  practical  jokes  were 
played  off  upon  him.  The  crew  were  squaring  the 
yards,  hauling  taut  the  sheets,  lifts,  and  braces,  and 
putting  the  deck  in  order  for  Sunday.  The  professor 
was  tipped  over  by  getting  entangled  in  a  piece  of  rig- 
ging, a  bucket  of  water  was  dashed  upon  his  legs,  and 
a  portion  of  the  contents  of  a  slush-tub  was  poured 
upon  him  from  the  main-top.  No  one  seemed  to  see 
him  ;  the  students  appeared  to  be  struck  with  blind- 
ness, so  far  as  the  learned  gentleman  was  concerned. 
It  is  true  that  the  rogues  who  pulled  the  brace,  dashed 
the  water,  and  upset  the  slush-tub,  were  immediately 
committed  to  the  brig  ;  but  this  did  not  seem  to  afford 
much  comfort  to  the  victim. 

On  Sunday  morning  it  was  necessary  to  commit 
three  more  ;  but  the  whole  six  were  released  in  the 
evening,  because  they  could  not  sleep  in  the  brig. 
Mr.  Lowington  was  annoyed  quite  as  much  as  the 
professor  ;  and  when  Mr.  Fluxion  came  on  board,  he 
had  a  long  conversation  with  him  on  the  subject. 

"  I  was  a  boy  once,  Mr.  Lowington,"  said  the  vice- 
principal  ;  "  and  I  am  free  to  say  I  would  not  have 
tolerated  such  an  instructor  as  Mr.  Hamblin.  He 
hasn't  a  particle  of  sympathy  with  the  students.  lie 
is  haughtv,  stiff,  and  overbearing.  lie  is  imperious, 
fretful,  snarling,  and  tyrannical.  In  a  word,  I  don't 
blame  the  boys  for  disliking  him." 

"  I  am  conscious  that  he  is  not  the  right  person.  In 
the  case  of  Kendall,  he  protested  against  my  decision, 


312  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

and  had  the  impudence  to  tell  me  that  I  lacked  judg- 
ment. I  have  engaged  him  for  a  year.  What  shall  J 
do?"  replied  the  principal. 

'^  I  hardly  know  ;  but  we  shall  be  in  trouble  as  long 
as  he  is  in  the  squadron.  We  must  give  the  boys  fair 
play,  if  we  expect  them  to  do  their  duty." 

''  I  have  kept  Duncan  on  board  the  ship,  and  I  sup- 
pose I  must  punish  him,"  added  Mr.  Lowington.  "  He 
plotted  mischief,  but  he  has  really  done  nothing." 

"  Excuse  me,"  said  Dr.  Winstock,  as  he  opened  the 
door,  but  retreated  when  he  saw  that  he  disturbed  a 
private  interview. 

"  Come  in,  doctor ;  I  wish  to  see  you,"  replied  the 
principal. 

The  surgeon  was  admitted  to  the  conference,  and 
the  case  stated  to  him. 

"  The  pedagogue  of  the  past  is  rapidly  going  out  of 
fashion,"  said  the  doctor.  "  Our  educational  system 
is  progressive,  and  it  will  no  longer  tolerate  the  teacher 
who  is  the  petty  tyrant  he  was  twenty  years  ago.  Mr. 
Hamblin  is  an  old-school  pedagogue.  His  will  is  law, 
which  is  all  right  to  a  certain  extent.  The  teacher 
must  be  the  judge  between  right  and  wrong ;  but  he 
must  be  gentle  and  kind,  and  raise  no  false  issues  be- 
tween his  pupil  and  himself.  Mr.  Hamblin  is  not 
gentle  and  kind.  He  is  capricious,  wilful,  and  pas- 
sionate." 

"  I  agree  with  you  in  regard  to  Mr.  Hamblin ;  but 
what  shall  I  do?" 

"  Discharge  him,"  replied  the  doctor,  promptly. 
*'  Any  instructor  who  cannot  get  along  with  Paul 
Kendall,  without  quarrelling,  is  not  fit  for  his  place. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    7,1  J 

The  students  of  the  Josephine  have  hazed  Mr.  Ham- 
bHn  out  of  pure  sympathy  for  their  captain." 

"  I  have  encraged  Mr.  Hambhn  for  a  year  from  the 

ist  of  July." 

"  I  shoukl  pay  him  his  salary  in  full,  and  let  hin? 
depart  in  peace,  if  he  would." 

"  We  need  his  services  as  an  instructor." 
"  So  far  as  that  is  concerned,  I  will  volunteer  to  take 
the  department  of  mathematics.     I  was  a  tutor  in  col- 
lege in  that  branch  for  a  couple  of  years." 

Mr.  Lowington  thanked  the  surgeon  for  this  ofier ; 
and  the  call  to  divine  service  in  the  steerage  terminat- 
ed the  interview.  The  principal's  advisers  spoke  his 
own  opinions ;  and  the  only  thing  that  embarrassed 
him  in  getting  rid  of  the  obnoxious  professor  was  the 
bad  con^'duct  of  the  students  in  regard  to  him.  It  was 
emphatically  wrong  for  them  to  "  haze"  an  unpopular 
professor  ;  and  Mr.  Lowington  was  not  willing  to  act 
under  apparent  compulsion. 

The  school  studies  were  continued  as  usual  through 
the  forenoon  of  Monday.  After  dinner,  dressed  in 
their  best  uniforms,  with  bag  and  blanket,  the  stu- 
dents were  conveyed  to  the  shore  for  their  trip  through 
Holland,  which  was  to  occupy  three  or  four  days. 
The  first  afternoon  was  to  be  occupied  in  exploring 
Rotterdam,  and,  as  usual,  Paul  Kendall  and  Dr.  Win- 
stock  kept  together. 

"  This  is  the   Hoogstraat:'  said   tlic  doctor,  when 
they  reached  the  principal  street  of  the  city. 
"  Does  that  mean  Hog  Street?  " 
"  Not  at  all,"  laughed  Dr.  Winstock.     "  It  means 
the  High  Street.     It  is  situated  on  the  top  of  an  old 
27 


314  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

dike  or  dam,  built  to  keep  the  IMaas  from  overflowing 
the  country  behind  it.  One  of  these  canals  is  formed 
out  of  the  River  Rotte.  This  stream  and  this  dam 
gave  the  name  oi  Rotterdam  to  the  place." 

"Whose  statue  is  that?"  asked  Paul,  when  they 
came  to  a  wide  bridge  over  a  broad  canal. 

"  That  is  the  statue  of  Erasmus,  who  was  born  in 
Rotterdam." 

"  Never  heard  of  him." 

"  He  was  a  noted  theologian  and  classical  scholar, 
who  made  his  mark  in  the  polemical  discussions  of 
Germany  and  Switzerland  in  the  time  of  the  Refor- 
mation. This  is  the  Groote  Markt^  or  market-iDlace, 
of  Rotterdam,"  added  Dr.  Winstock,  when  they  had 
crossed  the  bridge. 

It  was  a  great  square,  in  the  middle  of  which  the 
canal  widened  into  a  basin  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  market  boats,  by  which  the  meats  and  vegetables 
are  brought  from  the  country.  There  were  plenty  of 
dog  teams  passing  in  and  out  of  this  square,  and  at 
rest  there,  which  amused  the  young  Americans  hugely. 
The  vehicle —  a  little  cart  or  wagon,  sometimes  large 
enough  to  contain  four  of  the  great  polished  brass 
milk-cans,  holding  from  ten  to  twenty  gallons,  and 
sometimes  no  bigger  than  a  baby  carriage  —  was  gen- 
erally in  charge  of  a  woman.  In  some  of  them  the 
dog  was  regularly  harnessed  in  a  pair  of  shafts  ;  but 
in  the  larger  ones  there  was  a  division  of  labor  be- 
tween the  driver  and  the  animals.  The  woman  held 
the  shafts,  while  the  dogs,  from  two  to  six  in  num- 
ber, were  attached  to  various  parts  of  the  vehicle.  If 
there   were   but   two   of   tiiem,  they  generall}^  trotted 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    31*, 

under  the  wagon,  being  harnessed  to  the  axletrce-,  if 
more  than  two,  the  others  were  hitched  on  ahead  of 
her,  and  at  each  side  of  her.  The  dogs  were  of  all 
sorts  and  sizes,  and  seemed  to  be  j^'^^tient  and  well 
trained  in  the  discharge  of  their  duty.  In  some  in- 
stances, while  the  woman  held  the  shaft,  a  stout  man 
walked  behind,  with  a  stick  in  his  hand,  officiating  as 
general  manager  of  the  team,  including  his  '"'"vrozu"! 

"  There's  a  row  !  "  shouted  Paul,  as  they  approached 
the  banks  of  the  canal. 

"  That's  not  an  uncommon  scene  in  Holland,"  re- 
plied the  doctor,  laughing. 

One  of  the  first-class  dog  teams  had  incautiously 
been  conducted  too  near  another  team,  reposing,  after 
the  labors  of  the  day,  on  the  verge  of  the  canal.  Some 
canine  demonstration  on  the  part  of.  the  idle  dogs, 
doubtless,  excited  the  ire  of  the  travelling  team,  and, 
without  asking  the  woman's  permission,  the  latter 
deserted  the  ranks,  so  far  as  their  harness  would  j^er- 
mit,  and  "  pitched  into  "  the  others,  which  sprang  to 
their  feet,  and  met  the  assailants  half  way.  All  the 
dogs  howled,  growled,  and  barked  vehemently,  and 
in  a  moment  the  two  teams  were  rolling  upon  the 
ground,  entangled  in  their  rigging,  snapping,  biting, 
and  kicking,  in  mad  fury. 

The  woman  seized  a  stick,  and  belabored  the  bel- 
ligerents with  great  vigor  ;  but  the  fight  continued,  in 
spite  of  her,  until  several  women  interfered,  and 
drasfijed  the  cart  of  the  idlers,  do^fs  and  all,  out  of  the 
reach  of  the  others.  The  driver,  after  severely  whip- 
ping her  charge,  unsnarled  their  rigging,  and  went  on 
her  way.     Paul  had   to   stop  and  laugh   frequently  al 


3l6  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

these  clog  teams,  the  animals  presented  so  many  dif- 
ferent phases  of  character.  Some  of  them  howled  ot 
barked  as  they  trudged  along  ;  and  many  manifested 
a  desire  to  make  the  acquaintance  of  other  teams  on 
their  way,  much  to  the  annoyance  of  the  driver,  who 
would  storm  at  them  in  Dutch,  kick  and  whip  them. 

Many  of  the  men,  women,  and  children  wore  sabots, 
or  wooden  shoes,  which  Paul  compared  to  canal 
boats,  and  went  clumping  and  clattering  along  the 
streets  like  champion  clog-dancers.  The  Flemish  cap, 
worn  by  some  of  the  peasant  women,  also  amused 
Paul  very  much.  From  each  side  of  the  wearer's 
head,  near  the  eye,  projected  a  brass  ornament,  in  the 
shape  of  a  spiral  spring,  but  each  circle  diminishing 
in  size  till  the  wire  ended  in  a  point,  like  a  gimlet. 

In  the  older  parts  of  the  city  the  tourists  found  brick 
buildinofs  whose  walls  slant  outwards,  so  that  the  eaves 
would  project  eighteen  inches  over  the  base,  as  farmers 
in  New  England  sometimes  build  their  corn-barns. 

Rotterdam  contains  about  as  many  canals  as  streets, 
which  are  frequently  crossed  by  draw-bridges.  Some 
of  these  are  handsome  iron  structures,  revolving  on 
a  balance,  so  as  to  make  a  passage  on  each  side 
when  open.  Others  were  raised  by  heavy  frame- 
work overhead  ;  and  in  some  of  the  bridges  there  was 
only  an  opening  one  or  two  feet  wide,  to  permit  thf^ 
passing  of  the  vessel's  masts. 

After  examining  the  canals  and  bridges  in  this  part 
of  the  city,  Paul  and  the  doctor  walked  to  the  church  of 
St.  Lawrence,  which  is  noted  for  its  great  organ,  ninety 
feet  higli,  and  containing  sixty-five  hundred  pipes. 

"  Now,  Paul,  we  will  take  a  carriage  and  ride  up 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    ^I) 

to  the  park,  and  go  from  there  to  the  railway  station," 
said  the  doctor,  as  they  left  the   Groote  Kcrk. 

"  W'liat  is  that  man  eating?"  asked  Paul,  as  they 
passed  through  one  of  the  dirtiest  jxirts  of  the  city, 
where,  on  the  bank  of  the  canal,  a  woman  was  stand- 
ing behind  a  table  loaded  down  with  a  heap  of  shell- 
fish, just  as  they  came  from  the  mud. 

The  customer  was  taking  them  from  the  sliells, 
drinking  at  intervals  from  a  cup. 

'•  They  are  a  kind  of  mussel ;  I  never  had  confi- 
dence enough  to  taste  of  them,"  laughed  the  doctor. 
"  The  condiments  are  in  the  cup,  I  suppose.  Do  you 
wish  to  try  them?" 

"  Xo,  I  thank  you;  my  stomach  is  not  lined  with 
zinc,  and  such  a  vile  mess  as  that  would  be  too  i\iuch 
for  it.  Those  cakes  look  better,"  added  Paul,  pointing 
to  a  stand  where  a  man  and  woman  were  cooking 
waffles,  or  flapjacks,  which  were  eaten  by  the  pur- 
chasers in  a  neat  little  booth. 

"  Those  are  very  nice,"  said  the  doctor.  "  We  will 
try  some  of  them.  You  never  need  have  any  suspicions 
of  the  neatness  of  these  Dutch  women." 

They  went  into  the  booth,  and  were  soon  supplied 
with  a  couple  of  the  cakes,  hot  from  the  furnace,  and 
covered  with  powdered  white  sugar.  Paul  agreed 
that  they  were  very  nice. 

'•  The  signs  amuse  me  quite  as  much  as  any  thing 
else,  and  I  am  studying  Dutch  by  their  aid,"  said 
Paul,  as  they  continued  on  their  way. 

"  Read  this,  then,"  added  the  doctor,  handing  him  a 
vellow  paper  bag  he  picked  up  in  the  street,  on  which 
was  a  diopkeeper's  advertisement. 
27  * 


3l8  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

"  I  can  read  some  of  it,"  replied  Paul ;  and  the 
reader  may  help  him. 

En  tie  iflooriaan. 

Deze  en  meer  andere  soorten  van 

TABAK,    SNUIF,    SIGAREN,    KOFFIJ, 

THEE  ENZ 

zljn  te  bekoinen  bij 

D.    B.    SCHRETLEN, 

Zandstraat,   Wijk   5,  No.   447, 

ROTTERDAM. 

"Tobacco,  snuff,  cigars,  coffee — these  are  plain 
enough.     What  does  'Wijk  5'  mean?" 

"  That  is  a  division  or  ward  of  the  city,  like  E.  C. 
and  W.  C,  in  London." 

The  carriage  was  obtained,  and  they  rode  to  the 
2^ark,  which,  however,  had  no  particular  attractions. 
With  the  exception  of  the  canals,  and  the  manners 
and  customs  of  the  people,  there  is  little  to  see  in  Rot- 
terdam. On  the  way  they  met  a  funeral,  the  car- 
riages of  which  were  peculiar  ;  and  the  driver  of  the 
hearse  wore  a  black  straw  hat,  with  a  brim  more  than 
a  foot  wide,  and  with  great  white  bands  at  his  neck. 

At  five  o'clock  the  students  had  all  collected  at  the 
station  of  the  Hollaitdsche  Spoorweg,  or  Holland 
Railroad  ;  and  in  twenty  minutes  the  train  set  them 
down  at  Delft,  the  port  from  which  the  Speedwell 
sailed  with  a  portion  of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers  of  New 
England.  The  name  of  the  town  is  derived  from 
"  delven^'  to  dig.  It  contains  twenty  thousand  inhab- 
itants, and  was  formerly  noted  for  its  pottery  manufac- 
ture,  which  was  called  Delft  ware,  from  this  place. 


rOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    319 

The  party  went  immediately  to  tlic  Rririsc/i/iof, 
now  a  barrack,  which  was  the  building  in  which  the 
Prince  of  Orange  was  assassinated.  The  spot  wlicre 
the  murder  took  place  was  pointed  out.  A  descrip- 
tive stone  in  the  wall  records  the  event.  From  this 
place  they  passed  on  to  the  Old  Church,  nearly  oppo- 
site, which  has  a  leaning  tower,  and  saw  the  tomb  of 
Van  Tromp,  the  great  Dutch  admiral,  the  hero  of 
thirty-two  sea-fights.  In  the  New  Church  is  the  mon- 
u.nent  of  the  Prince  of  Orange.  His  statue  rests 
upon  it ;  and  at  the  feet  of  the  great  man  is  repre- 
sented a  little  dog.  The  inscription  was  translated  by 
Mr.  Mapps,  and  the  allusion  to  the  dog  atlbrded  the 
professor  an  opportunity  to  tell  a  story. 

"  While  the  prince  was  asleep  in  his  camp,  near 
Mechlin,  the  Spaniards  attempted  to  murder  him," 
said  he,  "  and  would  probably  have  succeeded  had 
it  not  been  for  this  little  dog.  As  the  assassins  ai> 
proached  the  tent,  the  dog  discovered  them,  and 
jumped  upon  his  master's  bed,  barking  furiously,  and 
tugging  at  the  clothing  with  his  feet  and  teeth.  The 
prince  was  awakened,  and  succeeded  in  making  iiis 
escape.  When  his  master  was  killed,  twelve  years 
later,  tiiis  dog  pined  away  and  died." 

"  Perhaps  he  died  of  old  age,"  suggested  one  of  the 
students. 

"  The  story  is,  that  he  refused  to  eat  from  grief.  I 
cannot  vouch  for  it ;  but- he  was  a  good  dog,  and  de- 
serves the  mention  made  of  him  on  the  tomb.  This 
church  contains  the  burial-vaults  of  the  present  royal 
family  of  Holland.'' 

At  six  o'clock  the  train  was  off  for  The  Haorue,  and 


52Q  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

arrived  there  in  fifteen  minutes.  On  the  way,  the  spire 
of  the  church  at  Ryswick,  where  the  treaty  of  1697 
mentioned  in  all  the  school  histories,  was  framed,  was 
pointed  out  to  the  students.  Accommodations  had  been 
engaged  in  the  city  for  the  company  and  they  remained 
here  over  night. 

The  Hague,  or,  as  the  Dutch  call  it,  S^ Gravcnhage, 
an:l  the  French  La  Haye,  is  the  capital,  and  has  a  popu- 
lation of  eighty  one  thousand.  Though  it  was  the  resi- 
dence of  the  stadtholders  in  former  times,  it  was  only 
a  small  village,  and  its  notable  features  are  of  modern 
origin.  Barneveldt  was  executed  and  the  De  Witts  mur- 
dered here.  The  Picture  Gallery  and  the  Muesum  were 
specially  opened  for  the  young  Americans.  The  works 
of  art  were  hastily  viewed,  and  the  students  passed 
into  the  Cabinet  of  Curiosities,  of  which  there  is  a 
vast  collection,  including  an  immense  number  of  dresses, 
implements,  and  models  illustrating  life  in  Japan  and  in 
China. 

Among  the  historical  relics  are  the  armor  worn  by 
the  admirals  De  Ruiter  and  Van  Tromp  ;  the  portrait 
and  sword  of  Van  Speyk,  who  blew  up  his  vessel  on 
the  Scheldt ;  a  part  of  the  bed  of  Czar  Peter  the 
Great,  on  which  he  slept  while  working  at  ship-build- 
ing;  the  last  shirt  and  waistcoat  worn  by  William  III. 
of  England  ;  the  dress  in  which  the  Prince  of  Orange 
was  murdered  ;  the  pistol  of  the  assassin,  with  two  of 
the  bullets ;  a  model  of  Peter's  cabin  at  Zaandam,  or 
Sardam,  and  many  other  objects  of  interest  which 
seemed  to  bring  the  distant  past  before  the  eye  of  the 
beholders. 

Early  <^he    next  morning  the  students  were   roaming 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    33! 

at  will  through  the  city,  anxious  to  sec  \vhat  the}' 
could  of  its  handsome  streets,  the  principal  of  which 
is  the  Voorhout,  lined  with  trees,  and  flanked  with 
splendid  edifices.  After  breakfast  the  train  bore  them 
on  to  Leyden.  On  the  w^ay,  at  the  suggestion  of  iVIr. 
Fluxion,  the  train,  which  was  a  special,  was  stopped, 
and  the  students  were  allowed  half  an  hour  to  explore 
some  beautiful  gardens  which  abounded  in  this  vicin- 
ity. ISIany  of  them  belonged  to  the  country  seats  of 
wealthy  gentlemen,  and  were  as  magnificent  as  fairy- 
land itself. 

But  w  hat  pleased  Paul  more  than  the  gardens  of 
rich  men,  was  an  opportunity  to  visit  the  house  and 
grounds  of  a  citizen  in  humbler  life.  Mr.  Fluxion 
asked  the  permission,  which  was  readily  granted. 

"  You  needn't  take  your  shoes  off  here,  as  you  must 
in  some  parts  of  Holland,  before  you  enter  a  house  ; 
but  you  must  wipe  them  very  carefully,"  said  the  vice- 
principal.  "  The  greatest  sin  against  a  Dutch  house- 
wife is  to  carry  any  dirt  into  her  premises." 

Paul  made  sure  that  not  a  particle  of  dust  clung  to 
his  feet,  and  entered  tlie  cottage.  It  was  plainly  fur- 
nished ;  but  everything  was  as  clean,  and  white,  and 
neat  as  though  the  room  had  been  the  interior  of  the 
upper  bureau  drawer.  Dr.  Winstock  ventured  the 
remark,  that  Dutch  husbands  must  be  the  most  miser- 
able men  in  the  world,  since  it  could  not  but  be  pain- 
ful to  be  so  excruciatingly  nice. 

The  proprietor  of  the  house  had  about  half  an  acre 
of  land,  which  constituted  his  garden.  It  was  laid 
out  with  winding  walks  and  fanciful  plats  of  ground, 
filled  with  the   richest-hued   flowers.     It  contained  a 


322  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,  OR 

pond  and  a  canal,  on  a  small  scale  ;  for  a  Dutchman 
woidd  not  be  at  home  without  a  water  prospect,  even 
if  it  were  or.ly  in  miniature.  At  the  end  of  the  gar- 
den, overlooking  the  pond,  there  was  a  grotesque  little 
summer  house,  large  enough  to  accommodate  the  pro- 
prietor and  his  family.  Here,  of  a  summer  afternoon,, 
he  smoked  his  pipe,  drank  liis  tea,  coffee,  or  beer, 
while  his  wife  plied  her  needle,  and  the  children 
played  at  the  door. 

"What  is  that  inscription  on  the  house?"  asked 
Paul,  as  they  approached  the  building. 

"  jSIijii  gcncgenheid  is  voldam^'  replied  Mr.  Flux- 
ion. 

"  Exactly  so  !  I  understand  that,  and  those  are  my 
sentiments,"  laughed  Paul ;  "  but  what  does  it  all 
mean  ?  " 

"  '  My  desire  is  satisfied,'  "  replied  the  vice-principal. 

"  He  is  a  happy  man  if  that  is  so,"  added  the  doctor. 

"  Many  of  the  Dutch  label  their  garden  houses  with 
a  sentiment  like  that,"  continued  Mr.  Fluxion.  "  I 
have  seen  one  somewhere  which  smacks  of  Yankee 
slang  — '  Niet  zoo  kwaalljk.^  " 

"  I  shoy;-!  say  that  was  slang,"  interposed  Paul. 

''  It  means,  '  Not  so  bad.' " 

"  Well,  it  isn't  so  bad,  after  all,"  added  the  doctor, 
glancing  back  at  the  "  zomerhuis^''  as  they  retired, 
with  many  thanks  to  the  proprietor  for  the  privilege 
granted  to  them. 

The  hoarse  croaking  of  the  locomotive  whistle, 
which  appeared  to  "have  a  cold  in  its  head,  drummed 
the  students  together  again,  and  the  train  pro- 
ceeded. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    323 

"  This  is  the  Rhine,"  said  the  doctor,  as  they  went 
over  a  bridge. 

"  The  Rhine  !  "  excUiimed  Paul,  jumping  out  of  liis 
scat.     "Why,  it  isn't  anything  !  " 

"  That  is  true  ;  but  you  must  remember  that  this  is 
the  old  Rhine,  —  the  part  which  was  dug  out,  robbed 
of  the  burden  of  its  waters  by  the  Yssel,  the  Leek,  and 
the  Waal.  The  Rhine  of  Germany  is  quite  another 
affair.  The  mouth  of  tlie  Rhine  is  eight  miles  below 
Leyden.     It  was  closed  for  a  thousand  years." 

"What  became  of  its  waters?  They  must  have 
gone  somewhere,"  said  Paul. 

"  They  disposed  of  themselves  in  various  small 
streams,  and  worked  their  way  to  the  ocean,  or  soaked 
into  the  sands.  The  mouth  of  the  river  was  opened 
in  1S09,  by  an  engineer,  under  the  direction  of  Louis 
Napoleon,  King  of  Holland.  But  the  ocean  at  high 
tide  was  higher  than  the  river,  and  to  prevent  the  sea 
from  flowing  back  into  the  country  and  disturbing  the 
system  of  dikes,  immense  gates  were  made  in  the 
sluiceways  constructed  for  the  purpose.  When  tlic 
tide  comes  in,  these  gates  are  shut.  At  low  tide 
they  are  opened  to  let  the  water  out.  Lideed,  this 
is  true  of  all  the  canals,  which  are  provided  with 
gates  at  each  end,  like  a  dock.  The  dikes  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Rhine  arc  stupendous  works  ;  and  as 
the  foundation  is  nothing  but  sand,  they  arc  built  on 
piles,  and  the  face  of  them  is  of  stone.  This  is 
Leyden." 

"  What  is  there  here  ?  "  asked  Paul,  as  they  got  out 
of  the  carnage. 


324  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

"  It  has  about  the  same  sights  as  Deift,  and  also  a 
celebrated  university ;  but  it  is  more  noted  for  its 
siege  b}'-  the  Spaniards,  in  1574,  than  for  anything  else. 
Doubtless  Mr.  Mapps  will  fight  the  battle  over 
again." 

Of  course  the  professor  of  geography  and  history 
could  not  lose  such  a  glorious  opportunity,  and  in 
the  Stadhuis^  where  the  picture  of  Peter  Vanderwerf, 
the  burgomaster  who  so  bravely  defended  the  place 
in  the  n:iemorable  seige,  was  pointed  out,  he  took 
advantaH'e  of  the  moment. 

"  The  city  had  held  out  four  months,"  said  he,  after 
introducing  the  topic,  "  when  the  worst  came.  The 
Prince  of  Orange  had  promised  to  assist  the  people 
by  supplying  them  with  food  ;  but  so  close  was  the 
blockade  of  the  place  by  the  Spaniards,  that  it  was 
impossible  to  do  so.  They  were  reduced  to  the  very 
verge  of  starvation.  Dogs,  cats,  rats,  horses,  were 
greedily  eaten.  Six  thousand  of  the  people  died  of 
pestilence,  which  came  with  the  famine,  and  there 
was  hardly  force  enough  to  bury  the  dead.  Though 
pressed  and  threatened  by  the  citizens,  the  inflexible 
burgomaster  refused  to  surrender  the  town.  At  last 
a  couple  of  carrier  pigeons  flew  into  the  city,  which 
brought  the  intelligence  that  the  prince  had  cut  the 
dikes,  and  sent  Admiral  Boiset  to  their  relief  when 
the  rising  waters  should  drive  the  vSpaniards  away. 
But  the  waters  did  not  rise  high  enough  to  enable  the 
admiral  to  apjD roach,  and  the  people  prayed  to  Heaven 
for  help.  It  came.  A  storm  and  a  gale  forced  the 
waters   far    up    the   river   to    the    walls    of    Leyden. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    323 

Boiset,  with  eight  hundred  wild  Zealanders,  iow^hi 
their  way  through  the  Si^aniards,  perched  in  the  trees, 
in  boats,  or  in  such  phices  above  the  water  as  they 
could  find,  and  made  his  way  into  the  town.  A 
thousand  of  the  enemy  were  drowned.  Leyden  waa 
saved,  and  the  people  celebrate  the  day  of  their 
deliverance  up  to  the  present  time. 

"  As  a  reward  for  their  bravery  and  dogged  perse- 
verance, the  prince  gave  them  the  choice  of  a  univer- 
sity or  exemption  from  a  portion  of  their  taxes.  They 
chose  the  former,  and  the  University  of  Leyden  was 
the  result." 

After  a  hasty  walk  to  a  few  of  the  points  of  interest 
in  the  town,  the  journey  was  resumed,  and  in  twenty 
minutes  the  party  was  set  down  in  Harlem.  In  the 
Groote  Kerk  of  St.  Bavon,  they  listened  to  the  playing 
of  another  great  organ,  including  imitations  of  bells, 
and  the  vox  humaiia^  or  "  mix  vomica^''  as  some  of 
the  students  persisted  in  calling  it.  Harlem  is  famous 
for  its  hyacinths  and  tulips,  the  passion  for  which  grew 
out  of  the  great  tulip  7nania^  two  hundred  years  ago, 
when  single  cuttings  of  these  bulbs  were  sold  for  four 
thousand  florins,  and  even  at  higher  prices.  They  are 
raised  not  only  in  gardens,  but  in  fields  hundreds  of 
acres  in  extent ;  for  they  are  a  very  important  article 
of  commerce,  the  gardens  of  Europe  being  supplied 
from  this  vicinity. 

Harlem  resisted  the  Spaniards  with  the  same  vigor 
and  determination  that  distinguished  Leyden,  though 
with  a  less  fortunate  result ;  and  ]Mr.  Mapps  was  too 
glad  to  tell  the  exciting  story.     The  town  held  out  till 


526  DIKES    AND    DITCHES, 

Starvation  was  inevitable,  when  it  was  decided  by  the 
brave  defenders  to  form  in  a  body  around  their  women 
and  children,  and  fight  their  way  through  the  enemy. 
The  Spaniards,  hearing  of  this  scheme,  sent  in  a  flag 
of  truce,  offering  pardon  and  freedom,  if  the  town  and 
fifty-seven  of  the  chief  citizens  should  be  given  up. 
This  number  of  the  principal  men  volunteered  to  be  the 
sacrifice,  and  the  terms  were  accepted  ;  but  the  blood- 
thirsty Duke  of  Alva,  having  first  murdered  the 
fifty-seven  citizens,  entered  upon  an  indiscriminate 
massacre  of  the  people,  of  whom  two  thousand 
were  slain.  When  the  executioners  were  weary 
with  the  slaughter,  the  victims  were  bound  together 
in  couples,  and  thrown  into  the  Lake  of  Harlem. 
Four  years  later,  the  town  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
Dutch  again. 

After  the  professor  had  finished  the  siege  of  Har- 
lem, tlie  party  walked  along  the  Spaarne  to  the 
machinery  used  for  draining  the  low  land  formerly 
covered  by  the  lake.  This  territory,  three  hundred 
years  ago,  was  dry  land  ;  but  an  inundation  gave  it 
over  to  the  dominion  of  the  sea.  About  twenty-five 
years  ago,  the  vStates  General  of  Holland  undertook  to 
drain  it,  by  forming  a  double  dike  and  canal  entirely 
around  the  district,  thirty-three  miles  in  circumfer- 
ence, and  containing  forty-five  thousand  acres.  Three 
huge  systems  of  pumps  were  erected,  to  be  worked 
by  steam,  and  the  task  of  discharging  an  average 
depth  of  thirteen  feet  of  water  was  begun.  After  four 
years'  pumping,  the  lake  was  dried  up,  and  the  land 
was  sold  at  the  rate  of  about  eighty-five  dollars  an  acre. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.   327 

The  maclnnerv  is  still  required  to  keep  the  water 
down.  One  engine  works  eleven  pumps,  with  a  lift 
of  thirteen  feet,  discharging  sixty-three  tons  of  water 
at  a  stroke. 

The  travellers  took  their  places  in  the  train,  and  in 
a  few  minutes  were  conveyed  over  the  causeways  into 
A-msterdam,  in  season  for  the  two  o'clock  dinner. 


328  DIKES   AND    DITCHES,    OR 


CHAPTER  XX. 

ADIEU    TO    HOLLAND    AND    PROFESSOR    HAMBLIN. 

AFTER  dinner  the  party,  in  charge  of  a  couple 
of  the  city  officials,  who  had  given  them  a  wel- 
come, went  to  the  Palace,  the  noblest  building  in 
Amsterdam.  It  rests  upon  nearly  fourteen  thousand 
piles,  driven  seventy  feet  through  the  mud  to  "  hard 
pan."  During  the  reign  of  King  Louis,  it  was  his 
residence,  and  the  other  sovereigns  of  Holland  used 
it  when  they  visited  the  city.  Its  remarkable  feature 
is  an  imposing  hall,  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet  long, 
fifty-seven  feet  wide,  and  one  hundred  feet  high.  The 
interior  is  lined  with  Italian  marble,  and  adorned  with 
works  of  art. 

"  Young  gentlemen,"  said  Mr.  Mapps,  taking  posi- 
tion in  this  great  hall,  "  Amsterdam  contains  a  popu- 
lation of  two  hundred  and  sixty-eight  thousand.  In 
shape,  it  forms  rather  more  than  the  plane  of  a  half 
circle,  the  circumference  l^eing  composed  of  the  walls 
of  tlie  city,  outside  of  which  is  an  immense  canal. 
Inside  of  the  walls  there  are  four  principal  canals, 
extending  nearly  around  the  city.  Take  the  trans- 
verse section  of  the  trunk  of  a  chestnut  tree,  divide 
it,  with  tlie  grain  of  the  wood,  into  two  equal  parts, 
and  th*^  *^ou  of  one  of  them  will  give  you  the  plane  of 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    329 

the  half  circle-  The  layers  of  the  log,  foriiied  by  each 
year's  growth,  would  indicate  the  canals  and  the  inter- 
vening spaces  covered  with  buildings.  The  heart  of 
the  city,  however,  is  irregular. 

"  Each  of  these  canals  is  situated  in  the  centre  of  a 
broad  street.  The  Keizers  Gracht,  or  Canal,  is  one 
hundred  and  forty  feet  wide.  They  are  not  circular, 
but  form  the  sides  of  an  irregular  decagon.  Other 
canals  intersect  the  principal  ones,  so  that  all  parts 
of  the  city  may  be  visited  in  boats  or  vessels.  The 
River  Amstel  flows  through  the  town  by  a  winding 
course  ;  and  Amsterdam  is  derived  from  the  name  of 
this  stream  and  the  dam  built  over  it,  in  former  days, 
on  the  spot  where  this  edifice  is  located. 

"  The  Y,  or  the  Ij,  is  an  arm  of  the  Zuyder  Zee, 
and  forms  the  diameter  of  the  half  circle  ;  but  it  is 
bent  in  the  shape  of  a  bow.  The  water  is  admitted 
to  the  canals  by  the  Amstel.  At  low  tide  the  water 
in  the  Zuyder  Zee  is  only  six  or  seven  inches  below 
the  level  of  this  river,  and  great  difficulty  is  expe- 
rienced in  obtaining  a  circulation  of  water  in  the 
canals,  where  it  stagnates,  and  affects  the  health  of 
the  city.  All  the  canals  and  openings  from  the  sea 
are  protected  by  flood-gates  and  sluices.  The  canals 
which  cut  up  the  city  divide  it  into  no  less  than 
ninety  islands,  connected  by  two  hundred  and  fifty 
bridges. 

"  The  entire  town,  its  sluices,  and  even  some  of  its 
canals,  are  built  upon  piles  ;  for  the  soil  beneath  is 
nothing  but  loose  sand  and  bog  mud.  In  1S22  a  vast 
warehouse  sunk  down  into  the  mud,  on  account  of  the 
weight  of  grain  stored  in  it.  Amsterdam  is  not  only 
28* 


330  DIKES    AND    DITCIIKS,    OR 

in  peril  from  the  sea  around  it,  but  there  is  danger 
that  the  bottom  may  drop  out. 

"  In  the  Spanish  war,  of  which  I  have  had  so  much 
to  say  since  we  entered  Holland,  Amsterdam  w^as  held 
by  the  Duke  of  Alva,  and,  with  this  city  as  the  base 
of  operations,  he  intended  to  conquer  the  country^ 
The  siege  of  Harlem  was  conducted  from  this  di- 
rection. 

"  A  small  fleet  of  Dutch  armed  vessels  was  frozen 
up  near  this  city,  and  a  force  was  sent  to  capture  them 
by  the  Spanish  commander.  The  crews  opened  a  wide 
trench  in  the  ice  around  their  vessels,  and,  putting  on 
their  skates  as  the  besiegers  approached,  advanced  to 
give  them  battle.  The  Dutchmen,  perfectly  at  home 
on  skates,  out-manoeuvred  and  beat  the  Spaniards,  who 
left  several  hundred  of  their  dead  on  the  ice.  The 
duke  was  astonished  ;  but  he  was  a  prudent  man, 
and  ordered  seven  thousand  pairs  of  skates,  upon 
which  his  troops  were  trained  to  perform  military 
movements." 

"  That  was  a  big  thing  on  ice,"  said  one  of  the 
students,  as  the  lecture  closed. 

In  the  course  of  the  day  the  party  visited  the  Otide 
Kerk,  or  Old  Church,  containing  "  a  big  organ,"  the 
Nlewe  Kc7'k^  which  has  monuments  to  De  Ruiter, 
Van  Speyk,  and  others. 

*' You  will  not  have  an  opportunity  to  go  to  church 
in  Holland,  Paul,"  said  the  doctor. 

"  No,  sir  ;   I  suppose  we  sail  for  Havre  this  week." 

"Most  of  the  people  go  to  church  ;  but  they  do  not 
observe  the  Sabbath  very  rigidly.  Gentlemen  sit  with 
their  hats  on  during  the  service,  or  take  them  ofl',  as 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    33 1 

they  please.  Aiiisterdam  is  one  of  the  most  charita- 
ble cities  in  the  world,  and  is  noted  for  its  almshouses, 
asylums,  hospitals.  In  one  orphan  asylum  there  are 
seven  or  eight  hundred  boys  and  girls,  who  are  kept 
there  till  they  arc  twenty  years  old,  and  then  sent  out 
with  a  good  trade.  They  wear  a  peculiar  dress,  to 
prevent  them  from  being  admitted  to  theatres,  rum- 
shops,  and  other  improper  places;  for  the  keepers 
of  these  establishments  are  severely  punished  if  they 
permit  any  of  the  children  of  the  public  charitable 
institutions  to  enter  their  places.  A  contribution  for 
the  poor  is  taken  up  every  Sunday  in  the  churches  by 
the  deacons,  who  use  a  thing  like  a  shrimp-net  with 
a  long  handle,  having  a  little  bell  for  the  benefit  of 
those  who  wish  to  look  the  other  way  when  it  is  thrust 
in  their  faces." 

"  That's  a  good  idea  ;  but,  I  suppose,  the  Dutch 
have  invented  some  small  coin  for  these  occasions," 
laughed  Paul. 

'*  A  stiver,  or  five  Dutch  cents,  equal  to  less  than 
two  of  our  cents,  is  small  enough.  There  are  a  great 
many  poor  people  in  Amsterdam  who  live  entirely  in 
cellars.  As  you  have  seen,  a  great  many  families  live 
in  vessels,  keeping  a  pig,  hens,  and  ducks  on  board, 
and  sometimes  even  have  a  little  garden  on  deck. 
When  the  Dutchman  gets  married  and  sets  up  in 
life,  he  obtains  a  small  boat  of  from  one  to  three 
tons,  and  goes  to  housekeeping  on  board.  If  they 
prosper,  they  buy  a  bigger  craft ;  but  his  home,  his 
wife,  and  children  are  on  the  water." 

The   dike   which   surrounds   Amsterdam   has  been 
planted  with    trees,    and    converted    into  boulevards. 


^33  DIKES    AND    DITCHE6,    OR 

There  were  formerly  twenty-six  bastions  upon  it,  con- 
stituting the  fortifications  of  the  city  ;  but,  being  no 
longer  useful  for  defence,  windmills  have  been  erected 
upon  them,  to  grind  the  grain  for  the  city.  The  four 
streets  bordering  the  principal  canals  are  hardly  to  be 
surpassed  in  Europe.  The  buildings,  which  are  most- 
ly of  brick,  are  unique,  with  fantastic  gables  and  pro- 
jecting eaves.  Many  of  the  streets  are  lined  with  trees 
on  the  banks  of  the  canals.  On  the  whole,  the  students 
were  more  interested  in  Amsterdam  than  in  any  other 
city  they  had  visited,  partly,  perhaps,  on  account  of  its 
oddity.  As  long  as  there  was  light  to  see,  they  con- 
tinued their  rambles,  and  then  retired  early,  in  order 
to  be  prepared  for  a  fresh  start  the  next  day. 

At  five  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  party  took  a 
steamer  for  Zaandam,  or  Sardam.  Leaving  the  shore, 
they  had  a  fine  view  of  the  city.  The  harbor  is  en- 
closed by  two  rows  of  piles,  with  occasional  opening* 
to  admit  the  passage  of  vessels,  which  are  closed  at 
night  with  booms  armed  with  iron  spikes.  In  various 
parts  of  the  Ij  were  seen  little  pavilions,  built  upon 
piers,  which  are  the  summer  houses  of  wealthy  citizens, 
who  own  pleasure-boats,  and  repair  in  them  to  these 
cosy  little  temples,  to  drink  wine  and  coflee  and  smoke 
their  pipes. 

At  Sardam  the  curious  students  visited  the  cottage 
of  Peter  the  Great,  in  which  he  lived  while  he  worked 
as  a  shipwright.  The  shanty  is  of  rough  plank,  and 
cants  over  on  one  side ;  but  it  was  surrounded  by 
another  building  by  the  Qiieen  of  Holland,  to  protect 
it  from  further  decay.  It  contains  but  two  rooms,  one 
above  the  other,  the  former  reached  only  by  a  ladder. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IX    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    333 

Alexander  of  Russia  placed  over  the  chimney-piece 
a  marble  slab  bearing  the  inscription,  "  Nothing  is 
too  small  for  a  great  man."  The  walls  of  both  rooms 
are  covered  with  the  autographs  of  visitors,  including 
that  of  the  Emperor  of  Russia. 

From  this  point  the  tourists  were  conveyed  l)y  the 
steamer  to  Waterland,  from  which  they  were  to  pro- 
ceed by  trekschuit  to  Broek.  This  peculiar  craft  is  a 
kind  of  drag-boat,  much  used  for  passengers  and  light 
freight  on  the  canals  of  Holland.  It  is  a  long,  narrow 
barge,  nearly  the  whole  of  which  is  taken  up  bv  a  low 
cabin.  Above  it  is  the  hurricane  deck,  provided  with 
a  railing  and  benches  to  sit  upon.  At  each  end  is  a 
flight  of  stairs,  by  which  the  main  deck  is  reached 
and  the  cabins  entered.  The  rtiim^  or  forward  cabin, 
occupying  the  greater  part  of  the  space,  is  appropri- 
ated to  the  common  peoj^le,  while  the  rocf^  or  after- 
cabin,  is  for  the  better  class  ;  but  as  genteel  people 
seldom  ^^^tronize  the  treksc/iiut^  this  apartment  is 
very  small.  It  was  drawn  by  horses,  attached  to  a 
long  rope  made  fast  to  the  pole  or  mast,  near  the  bow. 
Like  everything  Dutch,  the  boat  was  fitted  up  very 
neatly,  and  the  students  were  much  interested  in  ex- 
ploring it. 

'•  Here  we  are,  all  on  the  raging  canal  I  "  said  Ter- 
rill  to  his  cajotain,  as  the  team  started.  '•  If  it  comes 
on  to  blow,  we  can  take  a  reef  in  the  forward  horse." 

''  Or  in  the  het  jagertje^''  laughed  Paul,  who  had 
been  talking  with  Mr.  Fluxion. 

"  We'll  take  a  reef  in  that  now.  Don't  your  teeth 
ache,  captain  ?  " 

'•  Xo  ;  that's  the  boy  that  rides  one  of  the  horses." 


334  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

The  canal  was  filled  with  boats  loaded  with  market 
produce,  drawn  by  men  and  women  harnessed  like 
mules  to  the  tow-ropes.  Woman's  riglits  seemed  to 
be  particularly  recognized  in  this  part  of  Holland,  for 
females  are  harnessed  to  the  boats  like  horses,  enjo}- 
ing  the  same  rights  as  the  "  lords  of  creation."  The 
houses  on  the  way  were  mostl}^  cottages,  whose  steep 
roofs  were  often  twice  the  height  of  the  walls.  The 
stork,  which  the  people  cherish  with  a  kind  of  super- 
stitious reverence,  was  occasionally  seen,  but  not  so 
frequently  as  in  the  vicinity  of  The  Hague,  where  he 
has  a  nest  on  the  roof  in  a  large  proportion  of  the 
houses. 

The  boys  were  much  interested  in  the  navigation 
of  the  trekscJuiit.  Meeting  another  boat,  the  steers- 
man shouted  ^^HiiyV'  indicating  that  the  other  craft 
was  to  go  to  the  right.  When  the  tow-boy  of  the  ap- 
proaching boat  reached  a  certain  point,  he  stopped  his 
team,  and  the  trekschuit  horses  passed  over  it,  as  the 
rope  slacked.  He  halted  again  to  loose  the  rope  for 
the  barge  to  pass  over.  Neither  boat  was  stopped  by 
the  operation.  At  the  many  bridges  the  rope  was  cast 
off,  and  made  fast  again,  without  any  delay. 

An  hour  and  a  half  brought  them  to  Broek,  the 
paradise  of  Dutch  neatness.  It  is  a  village  of  eight 
hundred  people,  most  of  whom  have  "  made  their 
pile  "  and  retired  from  business.  Neatness  is  carried 
to  lunacy  here,  for  no  one  is  permitted  to  enter  a  house 
without  taking  off  his  shoes.  The  narrow  lanes  and 
passages  which  serve  as  avenues  are  paved  with  brick, 
or  with  tiles  of  different  colors,  arranged  in  fantastic 
figures,  and  some  are  covered  with  sand  and  sea-shells, 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IX    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    335 

made  up  into  patterns.  Strangers  are  warned  not  to 
ride  through  the  phice  ;  they  must  walk,  leading  the 
horse.  The  houses  are  mostly  of  wood,  gaudily 
painted  ;  the  roofs  are  covered  with  glazed  tile  of 
various  hues. 

The  cow-stables  of  the  dairy  farms  are  better  than 
the  houses  of  most  of  the  poorer  classes  of  Europe, 
having  tiled  floors,  with  everything  "  joolished  off'" 
and  sandpapered  as  nicely  as  though  they  were  in- 
tended for  drawing-rooms.  Over  each  stall  is  a  hook, 
by  which  the  cow's  tail  is  fastened  up,  so  as  to  keep 
her  neat  and  clean. 

The  students  continued  on  their  way  from  Breck  to 
Alkmar,  —  which  sustained  a  siege,  and  successfully 
resisted  the  Spaniards,  —  and  thence  to  The  Helder, 
a  town  of  twelve  thousand  inhabitants,  opposite  the 
Texel.  The  great  ship  canal  to  i\msterdam  com- 
mences at  this  point,  which  is  the  only  place  on  the 
coast  of  Holland  where  the  deep  water  extends  up  to 
the  shore,  the  tide  rushing  through  from  the  Zuyder 
Zee  keeping  the  passage  open.  The  party  had  an 
opportunity  to  examine  the  mighty  sluices  and  gates, 
and  to  observe  the  stupendous  dikes,  before  described 
by  Mr.  Mapps.  They  visited  the  fortress  erected  by 
Napoleon  with  the  intention  of  making  The  Helder 
the  Gibraltar  of  the  North. 

On  Thursday  morning  the  tourists  took  tlie  steamer, 
through  the  Great  Canal,  to  Amsterdam.  Being 
obliged  to  wait  an  hour  for  the  train  to  Utrecht, 
Paul  visited  one  of  the  "diamond  mills"  of  the  city 
with  Mr.  Fluxion.  About  five  hundred  men  were 
employed  in  the  establishment,   and,  as  the  business 


336  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

is  exclusively  in  the  hands  of  the  Jews,  the  mills  are 
closed  on  Saturday,  and  work  on  Sunday.  The  art 
of  cutting,  and  polishing  diamonds  was  for  a  long 
period  exclusively  in  the  hands  of  the  Jews  of  Ant- 
werp and  Amsterdam.  There  are  quite  a  number  of 
these  manufactories  in  the  city  at  the  present  time. 
The  machinery  is  operated  by  steam,  turning  wheels 
for  polishing  the  precious  stones,  and  propelling  the 
wire  saws  for  cutting  them. 

Diamond  dust  is  the  only  substance  with  which  an 
impression  can  be  produced  upon  the  hard  stones,  and 
they  are  polished  by  metal  plates  covered  with  this 
dust,  and  revolving  with  inconceivable  rapidity.  The 
saw  is  a  very  fine  wire,  to  which  the  dust  is  affixed. 
This  process  appears  to  be  the  origin  of  the  adage 
"  diamond  cut  diamond."  Before  the  fifteenth  cen- 
tury, diamonds  were  worn  in  their  natural  state,  and 
the  art  of  cutting  and  polishing  them  was  discovered 
by  a  native  of  Bruges. 

The  joiu-ney  of  the  students,  was  continued  by  rail- 
way to  Utrecht.  Approaching  this  city,  the  country 
assumed  a  different  aspect,  presenting  occasional  un- 
dulations, wdiile  in  the  town  itself  there  is  quite  a  slope 
down  to  the  River  Rhine,  on  which  it  is  located.  The 
treaty  of  Utrecht,  which  settled  the  peace  of  Europe 
after  the  war  of  the  Spanish  succession,  was  signed 
at  the  house  of  the  British  minister ;  but  it  has  since 
been  pulled  down.  The  principal  object  of  interest 
in  the  city  is  the  tower  of  the  Cathedral  of  St.  Martin, 
which  is  three  hundred  and  twenty-one  feet  high,  and 
commands  a  view  of  nearly  the  v^hole  of  Holland  and 
a  portion  of  Belgium.     The  sexton  has  his  residence 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    337 

more  than  a  hundred  and  fifty  feet  above  terra  firma^ 
where  his  family  are  domiciled,  and  where  his  chil- 
dren were  born.  Doubtless  they  will  be  regarded  as 
persons  of  high  birth. 

At  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  wear}-  tra\  ellers 
reached  the  vessels  of  the  squadron.  Holland  "  was 
done,"  and  the  excitement  was  ended.  Many  of  them 
were  tired  out  and  cross,  and  it  was  a  relief  to  know 
that  the  squadron  would  go  to  sea  the  next  morning. 
During  the  rapid  run  through  Holland,  Wilton  and 
Perth  had  found  abundant  opportunities  to  discuss 
their  mischievous  scheme  of  running  away  with  the 
Josephine.  They  had  so  contrived  it  that  eight  of 
the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Fleece  had  occupied  a 
compartment  by  themselves  in  the  railway  carriages. 
As  the  squadron  would  arrive  at  Havre  on  Friday  or 
Saturday,  no  time  was  to  be  lost  in  arranging  the  de- 
tails of  the  j^recious  scheme,  which  had  been  fully 
explained  and  assented  to  by  the  confederates. 

The  first  point  to  be  gained  was  to  "  cut  up,"  so  that 
the  whole  twenty-six  Knights  should  be  condemned 
to  imprisonment  on  board  the  ship,  while  the  rest  of 
the  students,  with  the  instructors,  went  to  Paris.  Mr. 
Haml)lin  was  still  the  centre  of  all  their  hopes  in  this 
direction  ;  for  hazing  him  would  enable  them  to  kill 
two  birds  with  one  stone.  It  was  a  great  satisfaction 
to  annoy  him,  independently  of  the  result  to  be  gained. 
Wilton  proposed  to  "  keelhaul"  him.  This  was  a  bar- 
barous punishment,  formerly  in  use  in  the  English  and 
Dutch  navies,  and  consisted  in  dragging  the  culprit 
under  the  keel  of  the  vessel  by  rojDCs  attached  to  the 
opposite  yard-arms.  Perth  declared  that  this  was 
29 


338  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

utterly  impracticable,  and  a  third  suggested  that  it 
was  only  necessary  to  "talk"  the  matter  in  order  to 
bring  down  the  punishment  upon  their  anxious 
heads.  Monroe,  who  always  adopted  moderate  coun- 
sels, thought  it  would  be  just  as  well  to  frighten  the 
old  gentleman  out  of  his  wits.  Indeed,  all,  except 
Wilton,  protested  against  inflicting  any  serious  injury 
upon  him.  A  ducking,  or  something  of  that  kind, 
would  do  him  no  harm  ;  but  they  did  not  wish  to 
hurt,  only  to   annoy,   him. 

After  supper  the  students  felt  a  little  brighter. 
Mr.  Hamblin  was  pacing  the  deck,  as  he  always 
did  towards  evening,  and  Perth  drummed  together  his 
forces  to  play  the  first  act  in  the  drama.  The  names 
of  the  twenty-six  Knights  had  been  written  down  on 
a  sheet  of  paper,  and  a  dozen  of  them  took  position 
in  the  waist,  with  their  backs  to  the  professor.  Scarce- 
ly had  the  actors  taken  their  places  before  the  Jose- 
j^hine's  gig  came  alongside  with  Captain  Kendall, 
who  visited  the  ship  to  receive  his  instructions  from 
the  principal  for  the  next  day. 

Paul  stepped  upon  deck ;  but,  perceiving  that  Mr. 
Lowington  was  engaged  in  an  earnest  conversation 
with  Dr.  Winstock,  he  did  not  interrupt  him,  but 
paused  in  the  waist.  Of  course  the  conspirators  sus- 
pended operations,  and  Paul  spent  the  time  he  was 
waiting  in  conversation  with  them  about  the  wonders 
of  Holland.  As  he  stood  there,  Mr.  Hamblin  cast 
frequent  glances  at  him,  and  brooded  heavily  over 
the  indignities  which  had  been  heaped  upon  his 
learned  head  by  the  young  commander,  as  he  be- 
lieved.    Probably  the  current  of  his  thoughts  would 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    339 

have  assumed    a   ditrcrent   direction   if   he   iiad   been 
aware    that   the   principal  and    the  surgeon  were  dis- 
cussing the  best  means  of  ''  letting  him  down  easily." 
Mr.    Lowington   at   last   discovered   that   Paul  was 
waiting  for  him,  and  the  difficult  subject  was  deferred. 
The   captain    of  the  Josephine   went  below   with  the 
principal,  and  the  conspirators   began  to  discuss  in  a 
very   unguarded   manner   the   process   of  keelhauling 
the  obnoxious  professor.     As  the  learned   gentleman 
passed  the  group,  he  could  not  help  hearing  his  name 
mentioned.      The  boys  soon  became  verv  earnest  in 
their  mamier.     They  had  seated  themselves  under  the 
lee  of  the  hatch,  and  did  not  appear  to  notice  the  fact 
that  Mr.  Hamblin  was  passing  on  the  other  side  of  it 
at  intervals. 

"  We'll  keelhaul  him,"  said  Wilson  ;  and  the  saz'a?z^ 
distinctly  heard  the  remark,  though  he  did  not  know 
what  it  meant ;  only  that  it  was  some  trick  to  be  played 
off  upon  him. 

"  If  he  didn't  hear  that,  he's  deaf  as  a  post,"  added 
Perth,  as  the  professor  passed  on. 

"  He'll  leave  the  ship  as  soon  as  we  have  keelhauled 
him,"  was  the  next  remark  which  Mr.  IlambHn  heard. 
Of  course  this  meant  himself;  and  he  paused  when 
he  had  satislled  himself  that  he  was  not  observed.  As 
this  was  just  what  the  conspirators  wanted,  they  re- 
vealed their  wicked  scheme  fully,  though  with  some 
appearance  of  concealment. 

"  Here  are  the  names  of  all  the  fellows  who  are  to 
take  part  in  the  operation,"  said  Perth,  flourishing  the 
paper.  "  The  fellows  with  a  cross  against  their  names 
are  to  throw  the  old  fellow  down  ;  those  with  a  dash 


240  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OK 

are  to  man  the  reef-pendants  ;  those  with  a  wave  line 
are  to  make  f\ist  to  him  —  " 

That  was  alL  Mr.  Hamblin  made  a  phmge  into 
the  midst  of  the  young  rascals,  and  snatched  the  paper 
from  the  hands  of  the  leader.  The  conspirators  sprung 
to  their  feet,  and  nothing  could  exceed  the  consterna- 
tion depicted  upon  their  faces.  They  stood  aghast, 
horrified,  confounded. 

"  It  was  only  a  joke,  sir,"  stammered  Perth,  as  the 
professor,  with  trembling  hands  and  quivering  lips, 
gazed  at  the  paper,  reading  the  names,  and  noting 
the  signs  against  them. 

"  You  villains,  you  !  "  gasped  he.  "  Keelhaul  me 
—  will  you  ?  " 

"  It  was  only  in  fun,  sir.  We  didn't  mean  to  do  it, 
sir,"  added  Wilton. 

Mr.  Hamblin  did  not  w^ait  to  hear  any  more.  He 
rushed  aft,  rushed  down  the  companion-way,  rushed 
into  the  main  cabin,  where  the  principal  was  just  dis- 
missing Paul. 

"  They  are  going  to  keelhaul   me,  next,  Mr.  Low- 
ineton  !  "  exclaimed  the  learned  gentleman,  savagely. 
"  Pray,  what  is  the  trouble,  Mr.  Hamblin?"  asked 
the  principal,  mildly. 

The  professor  explained,  exhibiting  the  list  of  names 
in  evidence  of  his  assertion.  Mr.  Lowington  was 
sceptical.  It  w^as  not  possible  that  the  boys  could  en- 
tertain such  a  monstrous  proposition  as  that  of  keel- 
hauling a  learned  professor. 

"  But  I  heard  the  plan  myself,  sir,"  persisted  Mr. 
Hamblin.  "  I  don't  know  what  keelhauling  is,  but 
that  is  the  expression  the  scoundrels  used." 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    34 1 

Mr.  Lowington  explained  what  it  meant ;  and  the 
savant^  without  considering  the  practicability  or  the 
possibility  of  subjecting  him  to  such  an  operation,  was 
tilled  with  rage  and  horror.  The  principal  went  on 
deck,  and  from  the  paper  taken  from  Perth  called  tlic 
roll  of  the  conspirators,  summoning  them  to  the  main- 
mast. 

"  If  you  have  no  further  instructions  for  me,  sir,  I 
will  return  to  the  Josephine,"  said  Paul,  touching  his 
cap  to  the  principal. 

"  Mr.  Lowington,  Kendall  is  concerned  in  this  af- 
fair," interposed  the  professor,  violently. 

"  1,  sir  !  "  exclaimed  Paul,  confounded  by  the  charge. 

"  He  is,  sir ;  and  I  can  prove  it,"  protested  Mr. 
Hamblin,  whose  wrath  had  almost  reached  the  boiling 
point. 

"  You  can  return  to  the  Josephine,  Captain  Ken- 
dall," added  Mr.  Lowington,  in  hisquiet,  decisive  tone. 

"  Mr.  Lowington,  I  protest  —  " 

"  Mr.  Hamblin,"  interposed  the  principal,  sharply, 
"I  will  thank  you  to  accompany  me  to  the  cabin;" 
and,  turning,  he  walked  to  the  companion-way,  fol- 
lowed by  the  professor. 

"  I  wish  to  say,  Mr.  Lowington,  that  I  am  not  mis- 
taken in  regard  to  Kendall,"  said  the  angry  instructor^ 
as  they  entered  the  main  cabin. 

"  Without  a  doubt,  you  are  mistaken,  sir." 

"  No,  sir  ;  I  am  not.     When   he  came  on  deck,  he 

went  immediately  to  that  group  of  bad  boys  who  were 

plotting  to  keelhaul  me,  and  had  a  long  conversation 

with  them.     I  watched  him,  sir.     My  eye  was  hardly 

29  * 


342  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

off  him   a  moment.     I  was  looking  for  something  of 
this  kind." 

"  And  you  found  it." 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  I  did." 

"  When  people  are  looking  for  faults  and  errors  in 
others,  they  usually  find  them,"  added  the  principal, 
significantly.  "  But  I  did  not  invite  you  to  the  cabin 
to  consider  that  matter." 

"  It  seems  to  me  this  matter  is  properly  the  subject 
for  discussion  at  the  present  time,"  replied  the  pro- 
fessor, who  thought  the  principal's  ways  were  past 
finding  out. 

"  No  ;  there  is  a  subject  of  more  importance  than 
that,  which  must  be  attended  to  first.  I  find  it  neces- 
sary to  say  that  I  am  ready  to  accept  your  resignation 
of  the  situation  you  fill." 

"  My  resignation,  sir  !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Hamblin, 
taken  all  aback  by  this  unexpected  announcement. 

"  Your  resignation,  sir." 

"  This  is  very  remarkable  conduct  on  your  paft, 
Sir. 

"  On  board  of  the  Josephine,  in  the  presence  of  the 
officers  and  crew,  you  protested  against  the  action  of 
Captain  Kendall.  When  I  have  called  a  large  number 
of  the  students  to  the  mainmast  for  discipline,  you  pro- 
test against  my  action.  I  have  to  say,  sir,  that  disci- 
pline, luider  these  circumstances,  is  impossible." 

"  Am  I  to  understand  that  you  discharge  me,  Mr. 
Lowington?"  demanded  the  professor. 

*'  I  intimated  that  I  was  ready  to  accept  your  resig- 
nation." 

"  Well,  sir,  I  am  not  ready  to  offer  my  resignation." 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    2^\^ 

"  Then  you  compel  me  to  take  the  next  step.  I 
object  to  your  remaining  on  board  another  day." 

"  I  was  engaged  for  a  year." 

"  W^ith  the  proviso  that  we  were  mutually  satisfied. 
A-  fortnight  ago  you  tendered  your  resignation,  with- 
out regard  to  the  engagement.  If  I  had  understood 
^'our  relations  with  the  students  as  well  then  as  I  do 
now,  I  should  have  accepted  it." 

Mr.  Hamblin  began  to  "  subside."  He  had  pretty 
thoroughly  convinced  himself  that  the  institution  could 
not  be  carried  on  without  him  ;  and,  since  the  princi- 
pal had  once  objected  to  accepting  his  resignation,  he 
had  felt  that  his  position  was  secure.  While  he  was 
considering  the  matter,  Mr.  Lowington  went  on  deck, 
and  investigated  the  plot  to  keelhaul  the  professor. 
The  conspirators  had  talked  over  the  matter  during 
his  absence,  and  had  come  to  the  conclusion  that  the 
truth  would  sen^e  them  best.  They  were  shrewd 
enough  to  see  that  there  was  a  rupture  between  the 
principal  and  the  savant. 

Perth,  as  spokesman  for  the  party,  confessed  that 
they  knew  Mr.  Hamblin  was  listening  to  them  ;  that 
they  intended  he  should  hear  the  plot,  which  they  had 
not  designed  to  execute  ;  that  it  was  only  a  trick  to 
annoy  him. 

"Was  Captain  Kendall  concerned  in  it?"  asked 
Mr.  Lowington. 

"  No,  sir,"  shouted  the  whole  party. 

"  What  were  you  talking  about  while  he  was  with 
you?" 

"About  Holland,  and   what  we   had   seen   on  our 


344  DIKES   AND    DITCHES,    OR 

trip.  You  were  speaking  with  Dr.  Winstock,  and 
he  was  waiting  to  see  you,"  rephed  Perth. 

The  principal  lectured  them  severely,  and  in  earnest, 
for  their  misconduct ;  but  he  did  not  give  them  the 
coveted  punishment  of  dooming  them  to  remain  on 
board  while  the  rest  of  the  students  visited  Paris. 
He  gave  them  bad  marks  enough  to  spoil  all  their 
chances,  if  they  had  any,  of  promotion,  and  the  choice 
of  desirable  berths  when  the  crew  should  be  reors^an- 
ized  at  the  beginning  of  the  next  quarter,  which  would 
be  in  one  month.  He  ^dded  that  he  should  preserve 
tiie  list  of  names,  and  that  the  conduct  of  the  party  in 
the  future  would  be  closely  observed. 

•■' We  were  stupid,''  whispered  Perth  to  Wilton,  as 
the  principal  retired.  "  We  have  given  him  a  list  of 
all  the  Knights." 

"And  he  hasn't  stoj^ped  our  liberty,"  replied  Wilton, 
in  disgust. 

"  No  matter ;  we  must  keep  still,  and  fight  for 
chances." 

When  Mr.  Lowington  returned  to  the  cabin,  the 
professor  was  as  cool  as  an  iceberg ;  but  the  decision 
had  been  made,  and  it  could  not  be  reversed.  The 
principal  reviewed  Mr.  Hamblin's  connection  with 
the  squadron  from  the  beginning,  and  commented  on 
his  conduct  in  the  consort  and  in  the  ship.  It  was 
plain  speech  on  both  sides  ;  but  the  result  remained 
unchanged. 

Professor  Hamblin  is  not  a  myth.  He  had  no  sym- 
pathy with  the  students,  and,  being  arbitrary,  tyran- 
nical, and  unjust,  they  "  hated  him  with  a  perfect 
hatred."      It  was  certainly  best   that  he   should  go ; 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    HOLLAND    AND    BELGIUM.    343 

for  in  whatever  vessel  he  was,  he  kept  it  in  a  turmoil. 
Air.  Lowington  paid  him  his  salary  for  a  year,  and 
enough  in  addition  to  defray  the  expenses  of  his  return 
to  the  United  States. 

The  next  morning  the  signal  for  sailing  was  hoisted 
on  board  of  the  Young  America,  and  the  pilots  came 
on  board.  The  students  were  bright  and  fresh,  and 
having  seen  the  dikes  and  ditches  of  Holland,  they 
were  rather  anxious  to  escape  from  its  muddy  waters 
and  its  monotonous  plains.  In  fact,  they  sighed  for 
another  taste  of  blue  water  and  the  fresh  sea  air. 

"  All  the  barge's  crew  on  deck,  ahoy  !  "  piped  the 
boatswain,  at  the  order  of  the  first  lieutenant. 

The  boat's  crew  repaired  to  their  stations  on  the 
quarter,  wondering  what  was  to  be  done  next. 

The  ship's  company,  who  were  waiting  for  the 
order  to  weigh  anchor,  were  vexed  at  the  delay  which 
the  tiip  of  the  boat  to  the  shore  indicated,  and  w^aited 
impatiently  to  learn  what  was  going  to  happen.  One 
of  the  stewards  brought  up  Mr.  Hamblin's  trunk,  and 
presently  the  j^i'ofessor  himself  appeared  with  his 
overcoat  on  his  arm,  and  his  cane  and  umbrella  in 
his  hand.  There  was  a  decided  sensation  among 
the  crew.  The  barge  was  lowered  and  placed  in 
charge  of  the  third  lieutenant.  Mr.  Hamblin  bowed 
stiffly  and  coldly  to  the  other  professors,  and  followed 
his  baggage  into  the  boat,  taking  no  notice  whatever 
of  any  of  the  students. 

The  sensation  grew  upon  the  boys  as  tlie  boat 
pushed  oflf  and  appeared  beyond  the  ship's  side.  It 
was  a  delightful  picture  to  them  —  tlie  obnoxious  pro- 
fessor seated  in  the  stern  sheets,  with  his  trunk  before 


34^  DIKES    AND    DITCHES,    OR 

him.  It  was  emblematic  of  the  final  separation.  The 
enthusiasm  of  the  moment  could  not  be  repressed  ;  and 
before  tlie  principal  could  interfere,  it  had  vented  itself 
in  three  tremendous  and  hearty  cheers.  Mr.  Lowing- 
ton  was  vexed,  but  the  deed  was  done. 

The  barge  passed  within  a  short  distance  of  the 
Josephine,  and  her  crew,  seeing  the  trunk  and  the 
professor,  understood  the  cheers,  and  repeated  them 
with  all  the  vigor  of  their  lungs.  It  was  impudent, 
disrespectful,  and  naughty  ;  but  the  same  students,  in 
both  vessels,  would  have  wept  over  the  departure  of 
any  other  of  the  professors. 

The  boat  returned,  the  sails  were  cast  loose,  the 
anchor  weighed,  and  in  due  time  both  vessels  were 
standing  down  the  river.  At  noon  the  pilots  were 
discharged,  off  the  Hock  of  Holland. 

"  South-west  by  west,"  said  the  first  master  of  the 
shijD,  giving  out  the  course  to  the  quartermaster,  who 
was  conning  the  wheel. 

There  was  only  a  lazy  breeze  in  the  German  Ocean, 
and  the  squadron  rolled  slowly  along  towards  the 
Straits  of  Dover.  The  watch  below  were  at  their 
studies  in  the  steerages,  while  the  students  on  deck 
were  thinking  of  Paris,  and  the  new  scenes  which 
were  to  be  presented  to  them  in  the  countries  they 
were  next  to  visit.  Their  experience  during  the 
following  month,  on  ship  and  shore,  including  the 
runaway  cruise  of  the  Josephine,  will  be  narrated  in 
Palace  and  Cottage,  or  Young  America  in 
France  and  Switzerland. 


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